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Threads of Gold 



Wai 



^en in v erse 



Ve 




The '. BfiARY OF 

OC "JORCSS, 
Two Oof-iee Received 

NOV. 30 190t 

COP^WIOMT bntrv 

CLASS a-OCXc. No. 
/ 9 "^ff 

OOfy a. 






Copyright 1901, by the Author. 



Press of 

Tbs Daxota BaruBUCAii, 

T«rmillion, S. D. 



Xlireads of Oold.. 



PREFACE. 



P I? E F A C E. 



THE Poet lives in his own sublime sphere, a realm 
that is entirelj' his own. 63- his own pectiliar 
fitness he reigns supreme, jet his own adapta- 
tion determines what the right of the poet shall 
be in the estimation of a critical world. 

He must not onlj^ laj- the foundation for his 
fame, but btiild and beautify the temple that 
shall draw forth the praises of his adinirers. 
He must set forth his own enchantments and become 
personallj" adorned with the richness of his own genius. 
It inust permeate the poet's soul as he attempts to bring 
forth in his own graphic way such scenes or events that 
he may blend into verse to charm other minds. 

The prayerful desire of the author has been to weave 
into his poem the spirit of truth and frankness, like a 
golden thread blending with a childlike simplicit)-. 

Most of them have been written underneath the im- 
pulse of the motnent, as the mind came in touch with the 
subjects blended into verse. 

The one aim and object has been to glorify the spirit 
and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. "And whatsoever je 
do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



If these verses shall give comfort in sorrow, strengthen 
hope in the time of despair, or support in the time of af- 
fliction, the glorj' and praise shall be given to Him who 
inspired the mind and guided the pen in the portrayal of 
those scenes set forth in these silent pages that are now 
given to the public. 

Some of these poems have proved strengthening and 
inspiring to other minds within the narrow sphere of 
personal friendship. Now, at their solicitation, the3- are 
given a wider sphere, like a friendly messenger sent 
forth into the wide, wide world to seek and find other 
hearts and minds to comfort, thrill and inspire. 

The Author. 



INDEX. 



INDEX 



Title. 

Introduction 

The New Year 

Theke Is No Night, No Death 

Silent Service 

Rock Me to Sleep, Mother 

One Little Seed 

My Life, My All 

Our Wedded Life 

Where the Zephyr Blows 

The Silent Message 

Just Fifty Years Ago . . 

The Wheels of Time 

Life's Race 

The Closing Year' . . 

The Laborer's Cottage 

My Mother 

The Passing Years 

Where the Lilies Bloomed 

Waiting 

Responsibility 

Who Is Responsible? 

The Two Lovers 

Retrospection 



Page. 

10 
13 
15 
16 
18 
20 
22 
23 
24 
25 
27 
30 
33 
36 
38 
40 
42 
44 
4ti 
48 
51 
54 
56 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



In Memory of Dwight L. Moody . . 

The Lokd Doeth All Things Well 

Partings 

Strange, but True 

The Evening Hour . . 

When the Day Closes . . 

Love 

Life's Purpose 

Let There Be Light 

Where, O Where ? 

The New Birth 

Life's Mission 

A Visit to the Cemetery .. 

Harvest 

The Prince of Israel 

Unfolding 

Christmas at the Old Home 

The Dying Babe 

Synonymous 

The Old Year Slowly Dying . . 

The Coming Storm . . 

Home, Sweet Home 

The Better Way 

Mary's Visit to the Sepulchre 

The Noble Knight . . 

An Immortal Soul 

Temptation 

Angelo 

Intelligence 

A Loving Tribute 



58 

60 

62 

63 

65 

67 

68 

70 

72 

74 

77 

79 

81 

84 

86 

87 

89 

91 

93 

96 

99 

101 

103 

104 

106 

110 

113 

114 

116 

117 



INDEX. 



Our Beloved President . . . . .120 

What Are We ? . . 122 

Nature's Treasures . . . . . . .125 

Wake Up, Ye Christians . . 127 

The Book of Life . . 130 

Whence Came They? .. 182 

The Sparrows . . . . . . 134 

Autumn .. .. .. .. 138 

I Am Lonely To-Night .140 

If I Should Die To-Day . . 142 

A Symbol of Beauty .. .. 144 

Life's Sea . . . . . . 146 

Our Twenty-Fifth Anniversary . . . . . . 149 

Nightly Echoes . . 152 

Toiling On . . .154 

My Study 155 

The Christian Graces . . .158 

Roses, Sweet Roses . . 160 

An Open Grave . . . . . . . . 161 

The Tumble Weeds . . 163 

Evolution . . . . . . . 165 

A Mother's Love . . . . 169 

Life's Experiences . . . . . . . . .173 

The End 175 



INTR OD UC TION. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This little book 
Of poems small, 
Readers cannot 
Dig^est it all. 
It has no lips 
By which to speak, 
Silent pages 
Make it complete. 



Its true value 
Measured by love 
Like unto that 
Drawn from above, 
A work of love 
To many hearts, 
Away 3^0 u go, 
With joy departs. 



Where thou goest 
Prayers will follow. 
Truth thou lendesi 
Minds will borrow— 
A golden thread 
That shall yet bind, 
By its own power 
Be ye entwined. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



Just one desire 
From heart doth flow. 
These silent pages 
Christ xiiay adore, 
Thus drawing close 
By secret ties 
Links of friendship 
Beneath the skies. 



A monument 
Of thought and toil, 
This book is sent 
From treasured soil. 
Whilst it lingers 
With 3'ou so nigh, 
A monument 
To wife and I. 



Labor of love, 
Sent like a dove, 
Given to you, 
Study it true, 
Scatter it wide, 
Whate'er betide. 
Have done my best, 
From toil I '11 rest. 



THE NEW YEAR. 13 



THE NEW YEAR. 



Hail, bridal morn, another 3ear, 
Fairest of all that makes the same; 
It comes with blessings thus to cheer— 
' Happ3' New Year" is th3^ fair name. 

So fair and pnre. hope to inspire. 
And life suffused to nobler deeds; 
With firm resolve I touch its l5re — 
Inspiring thoug-ht to which it leads. 

It bids me rise in God's own might. 
With true resolve for duty's hour; 
This year maj* bring a gi-eater light 
To heart and home, my dail}- bower. 

It links nij' life with those now past. 
And one more jear to earth's domain; 
The}' come and go, yea, sure and fast, 
This God-given one doth now remain. 

It may be one of better years, 

A friend to me. so good and true. 

Or one. though strewn with many fears 

Through sorrows deep that maj- enstie. 



14 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Those years now past — I cannot brino- 
The lost ones back. O how intense 
My heart doth j^earn that I might wrino 
Apart those gates and bring- them thence, 



Yes, gone; and in abyss thej' hide — 
Things unknown, alas! not to ine; 
This year may bring a sense of pride, 
Like rippling waters of the sea. 



It comes with love and hope to man. 

To link his life with stronger faith; 

When at the dawn it first began, 

The new brings life, the old brought death. 



And shall this come in vain? Ah, no; 
Kind words and deeds in fragrance sweet 
Fall 'round mj' pathwaj' as I go, 
To help some one, perchance, I meet. 



Through dajs and weeks I shall behold 
The joj's of life's inspiring song ; 
And when the year grows old and cold, 
I may have grown more sweet and young. 



THERE IS NO NIGHT, NO DEATH. 15 



THERE IS NO NIGHT, NO DEATH. 



There is no night, although the sun goes down, 
Only to rise upon some other shore, 
J^o that stars may shine, like some jeweled crown, 
In heaven's fair dome, silent to adore 
The creator of all. 

There is no night, for the sun never sleeps, 
Although it may seem to sink into rest; 
And from sight withdrawn, it silently keeps 
Its own sphere, day \yy day, from east to west. 
Illuminating all. 

There is no night; the darkness seems to fall. 
And light of day doth fade, not pass away; 
A veil doth fall, it does not cover all; 
Just a little while, then comes the light of day. 
From the sun's rising orb. 

There is no death; the life sinks into gloom 
Only to rise upon some other shore; 
Hope, like stars, shine above the vaulted tomb 
In heaven's light, a risen Christ adore- 
In Christ, the light of day. 

There is no death; our friends may pass away. 
And a gloomy shade may o'ercast our sky; 
The living soul still lives in boundless sway 
Of endless day. It comes our faith to try 
In life's great mysteries. 

There can be no death to the living soul, 
In its endless life an unfading ray; 
Like unto the day, the sun doth control; 
A living soul is an eternal day 
Of an eternal sun. 



i6 THREADS OF GOLD. 



SIIiENT SERVICE. 



Have you ever watched the glowing sunset, 
Whilst sinking in the distant west? 

Or to its speech have you been unmindful, 
As it whispered a quiet rest ? 

Have you ever watched the veil of darkness 
At nightfall, that the sunset brings, 

As if to cover your own weariness 
With its gentle evening wings? 

Often through the night j^ou longed for daylight. 

Ungrateful for the sky of blue, 
With its countless stars of midnight brightness 

And flowers drinking in the dew. 

As the night ever seemed long with silence, 
W^ith a sense of some inward fear. 

Striving to keep your fears in abeyance, 
As they thus came creeping near, 

Have you ever watched for daylight breaking 

In the far-ofif eastern sky — 
And you could not rest j^our ceaseless longing. 

So strange it seemed, 3 ou knew not why? 

Are you ungrateful, or are you selfish. 
And think the world is going wrong? 

Maybe you are craving some selfish wish 

That makes your days and nights so long. 



SILENT SERVICE. 17 



Ah! if you could be thus alwaj'S craving 
For others' needs, and thus to seek 

A life of usefvxlness, thus increasing 

The jo}' of those who mourn and weep! 

With loving deeds suffuse jour dailj- task. 

In helping others as 3^ou roam; 
Thousands there are who thus silentlj^ ask 

Your help beneath the starry doine. 

As thej' have watched for that veil of darkness 
At nightfall which the sunset brings, 

It does not cover their own weariness 
With its ffentle evening wings. 



Many a soul pra3'S at midnight darkness 

Beneath the canopy of blue, 
Longing for a star of christian brightness 

To bring its blessing: Is that you 'r 

Yes, many a soul thus longs for daylight 
Beneath the midnight sky of blue; 

Parched are they for the dew of sjanpathy. 
To your mission can't you be true? 

It's j'our "Silent Service" that is needed 
In a suffering world like this. 

Go at once, before the daylight fadeth, 
And in the going find your bliss. 



1 8 THREADS OF GOLD. 



BOCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER. 



Just rock me to sleep, Mother, 
As you used to long ago, 
Those little sobs to smother 
As I laid down on the floor. 

So tired, weary and fretful, 
I could find no place of rest 
The little head, so weary 
To rest on its mother's breast. 

I feel so weary with care. 
Will you a loving watch keep, 
Again smooth \\\y ruffled hair 
Whilst rocking your hoy to sleep? 

I long for those childish j^ears, 
Now that thej" have passed awaj'. 
With so many griefs and tears — 
Yet it seems but yesterday. 

None to me have been more true. 
Or a love more wide and deep; 
My heart often calls for you 
To rock me again to sleep. 

How swiftly those years have flown! 
Their memories still endure; 
No face on mine ever shone 
So brightly as that of yours. 



ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER. 19 



Charm'd awa}- inanj- a pain 
Whilst slumbers did o'er me creep, 
Cooling the wee little brain 
As you thus rock'd me to sleep. 

I long for it thus once more; 
The longing is broad and deep, 
That 5'ou once more as of 5ore 
Should rock me once more to sleep. 

It appears to me so long, 
As I used to fret and weep 
Just for a motherly song 
Whilst rocking your boy to sleep. 

It seems to me like a dream. 
When nightly shadows doth creep; 

that to-night it might seem 

As if you thus rocked me to sleep. 

1 fancy I see the chair 

Where those loving arms would keep 
Her boy so free from all care 
As 30U thus rocked me to sleep. 

To sleep once more on her breast. 
As if on the ocean deep. 
Her boy would quietly rest 
While Mother rocked him to sleep. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



ONE LITTLE SEED. 



A LITTLE seed placed in the j^rovind 

Into a tree did grow — 
The vital germ with life abound 

That sprang thus from below. 

The seed, the g^erni, la}' buried low, 

Yea, lost to mortal sight; 
Some unknown hand that seed did sow 

In faith, a prospect bright. 



That hand, that seed, shall never touch 

Each other — nevermore. 
As it thus blends and moulds with dust 

Its work to life will soar. 



The tree thus grows for some one else 

To prize and to enjoj^ — 
A shelter from the sun that wilts, 

With burning heat annoj'. 



They bless that hand, though never seen 
Or held in friendship's grasp; 

One noble act thus stands between 
The present and the past. 



ONE LITTLE SEED. 



How many little seeds thus sown 

In word or noble deed 
B}^ some kind heart 'neath heaven's dome 

To bless some one in need ! 



To-da}- we live to sow some seed, 
To-morrow we may die; 

One little act shall surely lead 
To bless some passer b}'. 



Some unknown heart will grateful be 
To him that sows the seed; 

Whilst unconscious of others' need 
To gratitude will lead. 



There's not a source of joy we find 
Tfiat helps us on our way. 

But other hands have helped to bind 
The blessings of to-day. 



As I have reaped, so maj- I sow 

For others in their da}'; 
Whilst thej' reap, they maj- never know 

Who sowed along the waj-. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



MY LIFE: MY ALL. 



O Christ, thou life divine, 

Within my soul thus shine;. 
Claim me, I pra}^ thee, as thine own, 
That I may know as I am known, 
And in th}^ likeness daily grow. 
That I beyond may reap what I on earth have sown. 

O Christ, \\\y lord and king. 

Help me thy praise to sing ; 
Teach me to trust and rest in thee, 
That I in thee and thou in me 
Ma}^ fill my mission here below, 
That I those joys may reap what I in faith have sown. 

O Christ, thou son of God, 

Emblem'd in Aaron's rod. 
And brighter than the morning star 
That shines so brightl}^ from afar. 
Thou art more beautiful than they — 
The life, the source, the joy, of an eternal da3r 

O Christ, thou friend of friends. 

My life in sweetness blends 
With thee and thine forevermore — 
Thy glorious name I will adore 
And dail}' love thee more and more 
Till thou shalt call ine home to be thine own. 

O Christ, thou source of all 

The joj^s that doth befall. 
As I thus journe3' bj' the waj', 
Thou art with me, bj' night, b}' da\'. 
Calling loved ones, j^ea, one bj' one. 
I am waiting, Lord, for thee to sa^^: " well dotie." 



OUR WEDDED LIEE. 23 



OUR WEDDED LIFE. 



The darkness falls at eventide, 

Whilst the fire on the hearth burns briirht; 

M}^ wife is sitting- by my side. 

And the glow gives a pleasant light. 



The cat is sitting at my feet, 
And children are quiet and still — 
These quiet hours my soul doth greet, 
A sweet peace ni}^ spirit doth fill. 



This home life doth sweet comfort give. 
As together we onward go; 
This home life is the life to live — 
To an3thing else that I know. 



Eventide, like a whisper'd song 
Of sweet memories to m\- mind ! 
These winter nights are none too long 
For the sweet home life — of tin's kind. 



24 THREADS OF GOLD. 



WHEBE THE ZEPHYR BLOWS. 



O THOU gentle zeph5'r, that calmly blows 

Beneath the stars that shine, 
At the evening- hour when the light withdraws 

A soothing breath is thine, 

As from some distant shore on gentle wings 

A cooling breath thou bears, 
And to my soul a quiet vesper sings, 

Like some friend unawares. 



Thine inspiring breath doth brood over all — 

The leaves cannot be still; 
A most welcome guest when night shadows fall, 

Mj' weariness to thrill. 

I know not how, or why, or even whence 

Thou comest unto me; 
Of thy presence I have a grateful sense, 

Like others, it ma}' be. 

Blow, gently blow thy breath upon my face, 

Its influence to feel. 
Go and find others, whom I cannot trace, 

And with them gently deal. 



THE SILENT MESS A GE. 



25 



THE SILENT MESSAGE. 



A LETTER missive came over the sea 
Bringing the sad, sad news to me — 
With silent breath 
It told of death 
In the home that was far across the sea- 
The land of mv nativitv. 



As I broke the seal, I feared to take 
The silent script, for it would break 
Sad news to me. 
From o'er the sea. 
Of a loved one gone from earth so dear- 
So far apart and jet so near. 



It told in tones of most tenderest love 
How she resigned her will to God; 
With willing heart 
She did depart, 
To be with Christ in the mansions above, 
Where all is peace, and joy, and love. 



26 THREADS OF GOLD. 



The bitterest pang that it brought to ine 
That never on earth I should see 
Her well-known face 
In fond embrace, 
As in days of old, just beyond the sea; 
She was as dear as life to nie. 



Farewell, thou loved one, it is npt for long 

When I '11 join that heavenly throng; 

Once more we '11 greet, 

Again to meet 

In the land beyond, by the golden shore, 

We'll meet again, to part no more. 



Elizabeth: so dear that well-known name! 
In death, to me it is the same; 
No change it makes- 
It only breaks 
The sacred ties of home, of earth and friends- 
Her spirit free to Christ ascends. 



JUST FIFTY YEARS AGO. 27 



JUST FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



Life's evening shades have gathered low. 

The night is growing long; 
It is just fift3" years ago 

They sang that babj' song. 

The day had passed, the evening shade, 

Like unto smiles and tears, 
When I in tender arms was laid — 

A wee babe, without 3'ears. 

An offspring of a mother's love, 

And from her ejes did glow 
A tenderness like that above — 

Just tift3' j^ears ago. 

How sweetly did her smiles thus fall 

On that eventful daj^; 
In innocence before them all 

I on her bosom Vay. 

Just like a dream, mj' life has pas.sed 
Before ni}- dailj- gaze; 

This one frail link, it cannot last- 
Not ver}' many da3's. 

Those tender scenes have all dissolved. 

And with increasing 3ears 
Partings and tears have been involved, 

With man3- anxious fears. 



28 THREADS OF GOLD. 



That home forsaken like a nest, 

Where loved ones lived and thrived; 

I am alone, for all the rest 
Have passed away and died. 

Fifty years ago: one short day 

It now appears to me; 
M}- mother's God has led the way, 

I thus can plainly see. 

Those memories, how blest are they, 

When I a boy at home 
Went in and out, thus day b}- daj- 

In childish bliss to roam. 



My school days came, and they did pass 

Like a cloud o'er the sky; 
That mother knew they covild not last — 

I could not reason why. 

I unto manhood thus did grow, 

And with it came a love 
For sinful men, that they might know 

That messasfe from above. 



Twenty-five years ago, or more, 
It was the month of June, 

When I stood bj^ that cottage door; 
A pang mj' heart consumed. 



JUST FIFTY YEARS AGO. 29 



That mother stood before my face, 

Her hair was turning" M'nO- 
Anxious thouj^hts on that face I traced 

Al)out her boj- that da\-. 

That word *' good-bye" I '11 ne'er foroel; 

Forced from my lips it came; 
">\\ heart was full, m\- cheeks were wet. 

And her's were just the same. 

That mother's heart I know did yearn. 

In secret thus to be. 
'Twas a mother's love that did burn, 

I thus could plainly see. 

Father and mother have passed awa)' — 

Brot.hers and sisters, too. 
Have gone from earth in life's short day. 

Such thoughts are sad, hnt true. 

Sweet tho'ts of home, a sweet ])erfunie. 
In them such pleasure find; 

Whilst j)assing years cannot consume 
Such thoughts within mv mind. 



Their dj-ing blessings came to me 
Yes, one hy one they came. 

From the far-away o'er the sea 
In life, in death, the same. 



30 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE WHEELS OF TIME. 



Silently the wheels of time doth unbar 

The gates of future years, 
And now the next is standing thus ajar 

Till this one disappears. 

Those silent wheels of time shall ne'er roll back, 

But onward in their course; 
In their resistless rounds there is no lack 

Of fear or remorse. 



Time's stern dial that measures out our space, 

In j^outhful days of yore. 
Whatever we gather in life's great race — 

One life, one race, no more. 

It's God's stern sentinel of all our schemes, 
That marks our onward wa}'; 

We come and go, like leaves upon the trees, 
And fall to earth's decay. 

We know that future years are now withheld— 

One at a tiine we snatch; 
Be it many or few we have beheld, 

They can't forever last. 



THE WHEELS OE TIME. 31 



We go step b3' step until we pass by— 

A truth we don't den}-; 
Following on our course with J03' or sigh, 

We live, and that to die. 



Night after night the sun's great tlaming light 

The western sky doth dip, 
Tingeing forests with beautj-— lovely sight— 

And hill-tops with love's lip. 



We dare not ask the meaning of such speech, 
As if our tongues were dumb — 

Or on our eye-balls blind they fail to reach— 
We let them pass along. 



As the years thus roll, ah! what do we see? 

Or, in dumb silence led. 
And think what is, yea, forever shall be, 

Without fear, be it said. 



How much there is in this short life, that mars, 

Beneath the skj- of blue 
Where the great orbs revolve, the sun and moon, 

Their freedom not debarred. 



32 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Tlie jears with i^ilent voice doth loudly speak 

To mortals here below; 
Whilst this day lasts we should earnestlj' seek 

The seed of truth to sow. 



The people laugh and inake sport of such thins 

Revealed: heai-en and hell; 
Thus deluded, borne on those silent wings. 

Whither they cannot tell. 



\Vith the wheels of time we are moving- hence 

Without a single pause; 
We allow time to fly, without intent, 

To fiaht a nobler cause. 



Kternit3- has alread}' begun — 

He spake and it was done: 

Time shall be no more," and yon setting 
Its race, like yoii, shall run. 



Like dajsand weeks and months, our life must j)at 

Into the great bej'ond. 
To find that God is God — to thee, alas ! 

Mercj- or vengeance found. 



LIFE'S RACE. 



33 



LIFE'S RACE. 



Life's race to run, 
Not all for fun; 
A crown well won 
Brinsfs the " well done. 



Life's day is now, 
Before it bow; 
Give it th3' thouerht, 
Spend it for naught. 

Da3''s morning breaks 
Take what it makes; 
Karly or late, 
Always awake. 



Life's day a gift, 
Thj' soul to lift; 
Seek life and light 
By day, by night. 

Life is a day- 
What doth it say? 
One word to thee: 
Wilt thou be free? 



34 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Let it not slip 
From silent lip; 
With daily breath 
It speaks of death. 



Live while it's day; 
Do not delay 
Its guiding ray 
To endless day. 



One at a time, 
Not mine or thine. 
God sends the day 
For thee to pray. 



Day at a time 
We die or live; 
With feet we walk. 
By tongue we talk. 



Nearer the end 
That God doth send; 
Thought act mtist blend- 
Now to the end. 



LIFE'S RACE. 35 



We live to die, 
And lavig-h or sig^h; 
We eat and drink, 
Then reach the brink. 



Thus pass along-, 
To death belong; 
Not all to die, 
The reason wh5\ 



We live or die, 
Speak truth or lie- 
It's how we spend 
Life to the end. 



Within our reach 
God's word doth teach; 
His Son he gave 
Our souls to save. 



From to-morrow 
Do not borrow 
Moments of grace, 
But truth embrace. 



36 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE CLOSING YEAR. 



The present j-ear is now fadinj:: 

Like autumn's leaf; 
Its precious moments are swajing — 

How short, how brief. 
Soon it must close and be no more, 

Beyond all time. 
Thousands of 3'^ears have gone before 

The present thine. 

Fast fading now before thine eyes — 

Its days are few; 
If thou hast aught to do, arise. 

Wait not the new; 
It's closing fast, the shadows fall 

Haste, no dela}'; 
In death so dies, O hear the call 

Turn not away. ' 

Another page has almost closed 

Upon thee now; 
Its lines are there, b}^ thee composed — 

Before them bow; 
Thine heart and thoughts composed tliat life 

In texture fair. 
Or else it's marred by sin and strife 

Deep hidden there. 



THE CLOSING YEAR. 37 



The blood-stained guilt, or deeds of love 

Are there engraved — 
That e) e hath seen them from above 

And there arrayed. 
Thy life must fade, and like all time, 

Mnst pass awa\-; 
Thy soul must breathe another clime— 

Eternit3\ 



One life beyond, one life below, 

A sojourn here - 
That Shalt thou reap, what thou hast sown; 

Death may be near. 
Upon those waves there is a soul; 

O stand amazed ! 
Eternity, that boundless shore. 

Before thee waves. 



think of all who have passed through 

Death's solemn gates; 
What from their lives doth now ensue? 

All their fates. 
The present year has borne away 

Many a soul; 

1 might be next, I cannot say - 

Death doth control. 



38 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE LABOBEB'S COTTAGE. 



Behold the cottage of the swain, 
Monument of his daily gain; 
He enters as the sun's last ray 
Falls, at the closing of the Av^y. 

All work and labor had been done — 
He came at even, as the sun 
Sinks slowl}' in the distant west, 
And gladl}' finds his home, to rest. 

That humble cottage, it contained 
Streams of love and joy unrestrained- 
The joj' of welcome gladly given. 
That home became the srate of heaven. 



With loving smiles and deeds so kind. 
Sweetly flowing from heart and mind, 
Blending together joke and whim. 
There voices blend in song- and hymn. 

Such a home is the sweetest place, 
Where love and joy can thus be traced, 
With home-like trinkets on the wall — 
Tokens of love and gifts from all. 



THE LABORER'S COTTAGE. 



Pleasures for all could there be found, 
By love and truth each heart was bound; 
That home, the fruits of toil, were saved 
A life of J03' to Hini who o;ave. 



That husband, father, crownly head, 
The evening prayer by him was led; 
A life so sweet, with love subliine, 
Flow'd sweetl3- down the stream of time. 



How blest are all such homes to earth, 
Where joj^ and peace thus blend with mirth; 
The greatest blessing God can give, 
That families with Him maj- live. 



Such cottage homes are greater far 
Than palaces where sin doth mar; 
The peace of life, to those therein, 
Is marred and spoiled by daily sin. 



The gifts and blessings of a home 
Cannot be found by those who roam; 
Whilst we live we all may share 
Foretastes of that home oi-er there. 



39 



40 THREADS OF GOLD. 



MY MOTHER. 



The dearest name that I have known 

Is now no more to me; 
All that is mortal hath been borne 

To rest, bej'ond the sea — 
My Mother. 



The dearest life that I have seen. 
As throixgh the world I roam, 

The life of Mother, it has been 
A blessing to my own — 
My Mother. 



Although withdrawn. I '11 ne'er forget 
Those early scenes of home; 

At night when the day's sun was set, 
We'd gather round the throne 
With Mother. 



I've sat for hours at her feet. 

As she the Book would take; 

It always seemed as if I 'd meet 

Beyond the golden gate 

With Mother. 



A/V MOTHER. 



41 



I 've often heard a mother's tread 
Come to my bed at night; 

" God bless my son," in prayer she said. 
Whilst bowed in Israel's might — 
My Mother. 



Those lips are sealed, those e3'es are closed, 

The weary feet at rest; 
Within the silent grave enclosed — 

Not mine, God's will is best, 
Dear Mother. 



Her well-known voice shall thrill no more 

As in the da3-s of old; 
I love her still, m}- thoughts shall soar 

Aloft; by faith behold 
My Mother. 



To such a life there is no death- 
She lives, and still will live; 

Within my heart, with my last breath, 
Praises to thee I give, 
Dear Mother. 



42 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE PASSING YEARS. 



Once in the 3-ears of ages past 
There lived on earth, the same as we, 
Mortals whose lot had thus been cast 
In human moulds, resembling thee. 

To thee the places of their birth, 
And where they died, inay be unknown, 
As they have passed from mother earth, 
And thou, in turn, survive alone. 



We come and go as race by race, 
And leave the foot prints of our day; 
Races of men can thus be traced, 
That held their own environed swav. 



The bounding pulse, the beating heart, 
Gave life its zest from day to day. 
Only to fade and to depart. 
In death's cold chambers thus to lay. 

Life's daj' is now, 't will soon be o'er 
And all its aspirations fled; 
These golden hours will come no more 
VV^hen thou art numbered with the dead. 



THE PASSING YEARS. 43 



Art thou loving-, love Him who gave 
His life, thus from a Virgin's womb; 
He lived, He died, that he might save 
Thj' life from an eternal doom. 



He saw what thou hast never seen — 
And felt those pangs of pain for thee; 
He went where thou hast never been — 
Yet in a moment thou misht be. 



The j-ears doth roll, blends da j' with night. 
Sun, moon and stars, the earth and main, 
Uo all exist and teem with life, — 
But do the}' speak to thee in vain'r 



In life's short day, canst thou not trace 
Its own lessons, and thus be wiser 
Another life in life's great race 
Is fading now, before thine ejes. 



Sad if thou hast grown old in sin. 
And, like a tree, with age art bent. 
To meet the doom that sin must bring- 
When daj's of grace have all l)een spent. 



44 THREADS OF GOLD. 



WHEBE THE LILIES BLOOMED. 



I STOOD where once the lilies bloomed, 
But now have faded, one bj' one; 
Beaut)^ and fragrance thus consumed; 
Their day and life of influence gone. 



Once their tiny buds did unfold 
Such rare beauty to human eyes- 
Perfected beauty thus untold, 
They lived to fade, as nature dies. 



Yes, one b3^ one the lilies fade — 
Beauty, fragrance doth pass away. 
I paused, as in the evening shade, 
Where lilies bloomed in life's short da}- 



Perchance some pilgrim bj- the way 
Has been refreshed b^' their perfume 
Some mortal lips were forced to say: 
" How beautiful the lilies bloomed." 



WHERE THE LILIES BLOOMED. 45 



Ma3' not life, like the lilies, be 

B3' the waj'side, where mortals tread, 

And live for others, thus to see 

Its rare beauty? Thus be it said. 



In life's short da^' it might unfold 
Christian graces before it dies, 
That some pilgrim might behold 
The beaut}' where the Christ-life shine; 



To fill one's place, where'er it be 
That providence has thus assigned; 
It cannot be where none can see — 
Your lonely spot some one will find. 



Some pilgrim needs the life we live- 
Its inspiration daj' b}' day; 
It is such lives that God doth give 
To inspire others on their way. 



46 THREADS OF GOLD. 



WAITING. 



How sweet the thoug^hts that come to ine, 

As I thus daily roatn ! 
I fancy I can almost see 

The border-land of Hoine. 



Methinks I see those mansions fair, 
So beautiful and bright, 

With voices floating- on the air, 
And visions to my sight. 

There is a Heaven not far away; 

It comes so very nigh 
By dreams and visions night and da3-— 

I '11 see it by and by. 

My spirit longs for that bright home, 
Where wear}' ones shall rest; 

The waves of tiiue on which it's borne 
Go slowl}' at the best. 

Those longings coine time and again — 

I cannot reason why; 
Sometime, I cannot tell just when, 

I '11 reach it, \>y and b}'. 



WAITING. 47 



So man)' loved ones thus await 
Beyond my vision, where 

Tliej' wait beside the g'olden gate, 
Their joys \ ahnost share. 



Whilst rajs, as from its golden streets, 
And the great Jasper Sea, 

Fall on my pathway- thus to greet, 
Seem beckoning to me. 



Just over there how verj' much 
To me just now awaits, 

Whose presence I can almost touch. 
That are within the gates. 



If I could pass within its walls. 
See heaven's beauty rare. 

Whose \-oice would be the first to call 
Mj- name, in language fair? 



With man)' loved ones I would go. 

•And thus draw near the throne. 
With tens of thousands more, when lo! 

1 would the lamb adore. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



RESPONSIBILITY. 



I HAVE a life I must defend 
From all dangers that will attack; 
On huinan thought much will depend 
Upon the wisdom of the act, 
But if I do not care to try. 
I make the word of God a lie. 



Whence came I ? is the question asked. 

I want some clue, some great ideal, 

To work upon — a noble task, 

Life and death: what more are real — 

What is its value — what the cost, 

Of life, if it all ends in dross? 



'There is no God " — so saith the fool — 
On fables, myths, life may be nursed ; 
Much thus depends upon the school 
That gave the germ from which life biarst; 
Fool-hardy, some men do not care 
To reason what beliefs they share. 



RESPONSIBILITY. 



49 



Intelligence, that master hand 
That must instruct, a mortal sir; 
With evidence on which to stand 
Revealed alone by faith and prayer; 
The things of sense reveal the night, 
It's faith alone that brings the light. 

It's waste of time simply to guess 
In building on what is unknown; 
B3' wisdom be ye richly blest, 
But self-conceit will ne'er atone 
For days of ignorance, the curse— 
B3- it the world is getting worse. 

Indifference, the curse that blights. 
The truth of God. left to their fate; 
It's unbelief that thus doth smite 
With heartless and unfeeling hate, 
Whilst behind revelation's plan 
God thus reveals his will to man. 

This world's wisdom the cup they drain. 
And from its source they live to shine; 
What of the heart— what of the brain- 
Unconscious of a Christ divine? 
Thus simplj- grasp things in a dream. 
\\y morning light came not a gleam. 



50 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Vea, fell rne; is that better far 
Than hope inspired b}^ lips that pray'r 
Faith in God is the only star 
That guides ns in the better way; 
The truth that shines reveals the bliss 
There is a better world than this. 



The be3'ond — the iniinite space— 
An endless life an endless daj-— 
The unseen God I thus would trace. 
His gentle voice, what doth it sa}'? 
*' I am the way, thf truth, the life," 
In contrast of a hopeless night. 

The God who made, made no mistake, 
VVhen hy his word my life he wrought 
H3' His command to life awake, 
And into being came, unsought; 
Like unto God, with wisdom great. 
The truth I love, but sin I hate. 



How know I if there be no God, 
No wisdom? How could I thus learn': 
Doth it spring from beneath the sod, 
Would 3-ou such intelligence spurn? 
The earth, the sky, the sea, the air — 
Yea, all proclaim " that God is there. 



WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? 



WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? 



What is that upon the open plain? 
It looks as if it might have been slain; 
Down upon the ground the object fell- 
In the fall it found and made its hell. 



Poor mortal ! Out on the desert wild. 
To manhood grown, yet some mother's child ; 
The enem3''s dart has pierced his heart — 
In a moment peace did thus depart. 

Conscious of guilt, all covered with shame, 
A mother's bo3^ with a mother's name, 
He looks around him in hope and fear 
To see if sojne brother might be near. 

Once a friend stands near with steadfast gaze; 
Their eyes now meet, both are amazed. 
Do they help each other? Can it be 
From one another in horror flee? 



The fallen one, doomed, has been condemm'<l 
By one that ought to have been his friend; 
He spreads the news, like fire-brands fall. 
And the poor sinner, is shunned b}- all. 



52 THREADS OF GOLD. 



With misgivings on account of sin, 
He seeks his friends, penitent within; 
With cold disdain they welcome him not — 
They leave him alone with his sad lot. 



Smitten with sin, he did not dare look 
For sympathy, for all had foorsook; 
No helping hand, as his heart thus craved. 
Came to succor, with their help to save. 



To desperation he was driven — 

A wanderer without a haven; 

Looked for sympathy, but could not find 

Among all his friends one true and kind. 



Tried, time and again, as if to rise, 
Looking pleadingly to the skies. 
But the heavens seemed to him as brass. 
Whilst the stain of guilt was on him cast. 



All thus passed by on the other side; 
Left all alone, almost a suicide. 
Lay struggling alone in mirj' clay, 
As terrible as the judgment day. 



WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? 53 



Would a Samaritan come that da)', 
With his compassion, and pass that wa}'' 
One word of cheer, or one kindly act, 
Might restore him to his Father back. 



Life's great tiiissioii is to seek and save. 
And in one's nature be strong and brave; 
Yea, j-ou maj' find in the path you tread 
Need)'^ ones, who need the living bread. 



Christ came to save, the sinner receive, 
From the lowest depths or vilest deed ; 
With righteous scorn her accusers faced. 
And every sin on her soul erased. 



'Go sin no more," her rescuer said — 
The sin-sick soul was instantlj- fed ; 
As I have done, so 3'ou do the same— 
With helping hand, glorify- my name. 



"Throw out the life-line" from thine own door- 
Listen to their cry, for lielp implore; 
They 're sinking! Hasten! Donotdela\! 
Save them, or fJjoa shalt thy trust hi'tnn: 



54 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE TWO LOVERS. 



" For this cause ehall a man leave his father and mother, 
and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one 
flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning 
Christ and the church."— Eph. 5 ch., 31, 32 v. 



Give me thine heart and I will give thee mine — 
Yea, promise thou to be mine own — 
I give thee mine, 
So give me thine; 
And kisses on lovers' lips are borne — 
Thou forever mine, I forever thine. 

This heart of mine I give to thee, so true. 

And thine own heart must thus be mine; . 
Two shall be one 
When it is done. 
And in love's mirror our lives shall shine, 
The pledge once given, naught but death consume. 

To live all alone is but to be dead — 
Dead unto all, except we live 
For each other; 
A true lover, 
Thou to be mine, thou thine heart must give. 
And from this hour we promise to be wed. 

Thou must not keep thyself away from me — 
True friends to be, but never foes; 
Union is strength, 
With breadth and length; 
We will for life share each other's woes. 
As we steer our course over life's great sea. 



THE TWO LOVERS. 55 



I will be thine, thou shalt be mine, till death; 
Secretly pledge each other's love — 
It's true and right 
In God's own sight, 
Silentlj' beholds thus from above — 
The words thus spoken with our whispered breath. 

Love's token given between me and thee — 
The secret kiss upon love's lip, 
Unseen, unknown, 
To us alone; 
On thy finger this ring I will slip- 
In it what we have given thou shalt see. 

Ever confiding, sweetly abiding, 
In one another's love to be, 
Now and ever, 
Till death sever; 
Our wedding day in the future see, 
Its own brightness on our pathway shining. 

Stay, my loved one, this pledge foreshadows more 
To me and thee, as we shall see. 
The pledge of love 
Came from above — 
Christ thus came to give himself for thee, 
Wilt thou in turn that great love adorer 

It's a great myster}', a mysterj^ great, 

Between the bridegroom and the bride ; 
With each abide, 
Thus side hy side, 
And in His love thus daily abide — 
A bond that neither life nor death can break. 



S6 THREADS OF GOLD. 



RETROSPECTION. 



How sweet and how pleasant to look at the past, 

If in right moulds our thoughts and actions were cast; 

But if life has been spent as if in a dream, 

Unbleat has been the course of life's flowing stream. 



How pleasant to look back on life's early morn, 
When life seemed so fragrant, and without a thorn; 
How blessed and happ)^, in seeking a smile — 
Whilst seeking and waiting, you trusted awhile. 



How pleasant the act, when some gift bestowing. 
When heart and impulse with love-deeds o'erflowing, 
As we stand in His strength and likeness arrayed, 
In the morn of our life, or the evening shade. 



How grand and inspiring to take a review 

Of life's scenes as thej' blend, with the old and the new. 

When jo3'S and sorrows so often we thus share. 

As we look backward in thought that takes us there. 



RE TK OSFE C TION. 



57 



Age and experience both seem to unite 
In dwelling on the good, brings joj^ and delight,; 
The more we blend life's scenes with infinite love, 
Nearer we are drawn to the mansions above. 



How reflective our life, whose image we see 
Mirrored on life's memory-, always to be — 
Through time and eternit3' never erased — 
The footprints of life we can easily trace. 



Bitter the anguish as our mind ma}' explore-- 
As we of ourselves may thus open heart's door; 
How real and true, as we thus may look in, 
Beholding for ourselves our own daily sin. 



Or a sense of sweet peace shall soon overflow 
As we thus look within our heart's open door, 
And there see a guest of infinite love 
Abiding therein, brings a peace from above. 



58 THREADS OF GOLD. 



IN MEMORY OF DWIGHT L. MOODY. 



The living voice has ceased to speak 
To thousands of the living way — 
In public halls or on the street 
Nevermore an audience sway. 



The living tongue, as if on fire 
With messages that were divine, 
As he thus stood, as God's own seer, 
With burning thoughts, in words sublime. 

The wearj^ feet are now at rest 
From long journeys throughout the world- 
Infinite wisdom thought it best 
To take, and like a banner furled. 

That loving heart doth beat no more — 
In the cold breast it rests, so still; 
He now his God does thus adore, 
And heaven's joy his soul doth fill. 

Those loving hands, outstretch'd so long, 
T'wards sinful men, where'er he roamed, 
Now helpless, whilst to death belong, 
As the3' shall be outstretch'd no more. 



DWIGHT L. MOODY. 5^ 



Not in buildings that bear his name, 
By personal gifts that he received; 
He lives enshrined in nobler fame 
Within the hearts of those he saved. 



Servant of God, life's work well done. 
Thou art called home: from labor rest; 
Calm was thj' setting, like the sun- 
In glor3' g^rand from east to west. 



A prophet true, sent forth from God, 
Noble servant of God's own son— 
The body rests beneath the sod. 
His soul thus claims what life had won. 



That household name can never die 
Whilst the j'ears in succession pass; 
'All flesh is grass," the voice doth crj^ 
Whilst life and earthly- beings last. 



A man of God, so pure and rare 
He lived, not he, hut Christ in hiiu, 
That made his life so grand and fair- 
Unseltish love came from within. 



6o THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE LORD DOETH ALL THINGS WELL. 



There are joys that we may not j'et have reached 

Whilst in the valley below; 
There are summits of peace God's word doth teach, 

That even a child wmaj know. 



Whilst treading- in the valley our thoughts may rise, 
Surrounded bj^ mountains high; 

Viy faith we'll survey them with jo3'ful e3'es 
To bring down those summits nigh. 



At times \ye forget God's mercy and love. 

And scan those mountains with fear, 

Whilst we should rise on the wings of a dove 
To bring the far-distant near. 



The earth is composed of valleys and hills — 
In wisdom He brought them forth; 

The beautj' of earth otir very soul fills 

With pleasure and not with wrath. 

The mountains appear, but faitli shall prevail, 
To bring down those summits high; 

\^y faith they dissolve and all is made plain, 
To assuage the mourner's sigh. 



THE LORD DOETH ALL THINGS WELL. 6i 



Despair we should not, but bj- faith make bold 
To follow his guiding hand 

O'er rugged rocks or drear}^ plains untold, 
Though numerous as the sands. 



Sometimes we murmur and would turn our face 
In search of a smoother path; 

It 's not for mortal erring man to trace 
Wisdom which the Father hath. 



Ma}- we display submission to His will. 

Nor question His righteous waj^s; 

Let wisdom's guiding hand our souls enthrill 
Throughout our remaining davs. 



Ma}- we a child-like spirit thus displa}'^ 
The beaut}' of grace divine, 

That day hy da}' within our souls one ray 
Of celestial light mav shine. 



Trust and believe his ways are right and jtist- 
On his word securely dwell; 

May we always possess a child-like trust 

The Lord hath done all things well. 



62 THREADS OF GOLD. 



* PARTINGS. 



Partings, one by one they come to meet thee, 
And clouds of darkness doth o'ercast thy sk3\ 
The great " I Am " still abiding with thee 
Where'er thou sleep, wake or lie — 
Only trust Him, 
This great sorrow comes thy faith to \ry. 

Only trust Him: care not for the morrow, 
Even if thy cup of grief doth o'erflow; 
Trials and sorrow seek not to borrow — 
Be not hasty, nor too slow; 
Only trust Him, 
In trying hours He will not let thee go. 

Thy father is not, now thj' mother's loss 
Press sore, thine heart in bitterness o'erflows; 
Hope long cherished now like an anchor lost 
In the tide of swelling woes; 
Only trust Him — 
In love He guides th}^ way — He knows, He knows. 

A loving Father's hand doth hold thee still, 
In valleys deep, where thou in silence weep; 
He will wipe awa}' th}^ tears, and will fill 

Thine heart with joy; thou shalt meet. 
Only trust Him — 
He will bring thee safe to them, at His feet. 

* The above was written on the death of Mrs. Davies's mother, 



STRANGE, BUT TRUE. 63 



STRANGE, BUT TRUE. 



Once h mortal met face to face, 
As he would meet some earthlj' friend; 
It was himself that he thus traced 
In those moments, his aid to lend. 

His soul plead in an earnest tone — 

It was the truth thus forced right home; 

Convinced he was, I 'm not alone. 

Whilst throujrh this world he dailj- roamed. 

Thoughts were awakened on that night — 
So strange thej' seemed, yet thej^ were true ; 
Silently plead for what was right, 
A righteous cause, the man well knew. 

It plead for life, with good intent, 
He felt the truth: he was condemned; 
On sin and shame he was thus bent- 
His soul to ruin he would send. 

By God united in the womb- 
Forever thus united be; 

That union nothing can consume, « 

CJod's truth revealed was not a dream. 

That night something thus came between 
The two, as they together dwelt; 
Divorced, they did b}' nature seem. 
The lawful rights he thus withheld. 



64 THREADS OF GOLD. 



The contract closed, around a wall— 
They were imprisoned to their fate; 
Reg'ardless he to his soul's call, 
And to their eternal doom await. 



Vain mortal, foolishly had he sold 
His soul for pleasures here below — 
Bartered his sovil for sordid gold. 
That down to their doom they might go. 

His soul thus fell beneath his feet — 
An awful thought, a selfish whim 
To thus exist, never to meet 
As friends; the barrier his sin. 

A traitor he. No reason why? 
Betray his soul awaj^ from God, 
He turns the truth into a lie, 
As if his soul were but a clod. 

What a strange being is a man. 
Void of reason as he can be — 
Plunge into sin, that he might damn 
Body and Soul in such a sea. 

Reason dethroned it cannot be, 
Through love of sin he cannot see 
His doom, or else on bended knee 
Would seek to hide, O Lord, in thee! 



THE EVENING HOUR. 65 



THE EVENING HOUR. 



The quiet hour, the evening's hush. 

Just at the close of day, 
When cares of life have ceased to rush 

The heart and mind away 
From quiet things, 
From whence life's sweet pleasures spring. 



When nature's calmness is aglow. 
And everj'thing seems bright — 

Yea, whilst the sun is sinking low, 
New scenes appear to sight; 
In visions fair, 

Those quiet moments J love to share. 



The sweetest joy thus comes to me. 

As I thus draw aside 
From worldly cares, thus to be free, 

Sweet pleasures thus abide 
Within my soul — 
Heavenlj- thoughts sweetl}- control. 



66 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Tlie sk3- above, the earth beneath — 
Thej" seem to blend in one ; 

An unseen hand brings forth a wreath. 
To which my heart responds 
In thoughts sublime, 

With faith, hope and love entwined. 



God thus draws near, with silent tread. 

Unseen, but not unfelt; 
On manna sweet xi\y soul thus fed — 

On bended knt'e I knelt. 
For God was there; 
His presence came I thus did share. 



As in olden time, God thus speaks 

At eventide, is found 
B3' everj' soul that humbly seeks, 

On consecrated ground, 
The burning bush, 
In the quiet evening's hush. 



WHEN THE DAY CLOSES. 67 



WHEN THE DAY CLOSES. 



When the day closes, and all is still, 
And the traffic on the streets has ceased; 
When nig-ht shadows fall o'er vale and hill. 
Rest draweth near to man and beast. 

Natvire thus speaks with its silent voice. 
Ye sons of toil, from your labor rest. 
Blessed the man who makes home his choice. 
Like the bird on the wing seeks its nest. 

Peaceful the heavens, at night they seem, 
As they spread out in silent array. 
With stars as guards, in silverj' sheen, 
From evening's gloom till the dawn of daj-. 

How sweet is the rest that comes with night 
To the homes that are bowered in love; 
This world affords many pleasing sights, 
Reflecting the spirit of a dove. 

When life's daj^ closes and all is still. 
The pulsation of my heart has ceased; 
When death's cold hand, with its icy chill, 
Mj' soul from this bod}- been released. 

This life has been so real and true, 
A daily blending with things unseen; 
Not life nor death can mj' hope consume. 
Whilst the promise of God intervene. 

How bright the promise to me doth seem. 
Like stars in their brilliant arraj-; 
Hope, like bright stars in silverj- sheen, 
Shine on, till the resurrection daj-. 



68 THREADS OF GOLD. 



LOVE. 



None can describe that love, 
That priceless love, that Jesus pledged for me; 

He left his home above, 
To suffer and to die for one like me. 

Upon that cross I gaze, 
And on that sacred head, in grief I see 

Those wounds, I stand amazed — 
That crown and scarlet robe he wore for me. 

Sorrow unknown assailed 
My djang Lord, his soul o'erwhelmed in woes; 

On Christ, my Lord, thej^ railed — 
Those cruel mockings bj^ his bitter foes. 

M3^ Lord was crucified 
With the vile upon the accursed tree. 

And bowed his head and died 
The death upon that cross for one like me. 

Himself he came to give 
Those bound b}' sin, the heavy laden, rest; 

He bids the sinner live 
And rest in peace forever on his breast. 

In him alone I 've peace — 
The peace that flows through his und3'ing love; 

And saved from sin bj' grace. 
By grace through faitfi, I am a child of God. 



LOVE. 69 



But for redeeming- grace, 
I know I never should in rapture see 

The glory of his face, 
That once was veiled in grief and shame ior me 

love be\ond compare. 

Be thou my praise till 1 th)* giorj- see, 

Till I thy glory share, 
For this I know, that thou didst die for me. 

1 love thee, O mj- Lord, 

For thine unchanging, und3ing love; 

Let mine with thine accord, 
A ransomed soul to swell thj- praise above. 

Loving, for God is love — 
The eternal source, the eternal spring; 

Thus all heaven is love. 
With loving praise shall heaven's arches ring. 

Eternal and divine. 
That matchless love eternallj- shall flow, 

As long as I am thine; 
All mine are thine," and I will thee adore. 

It is love abiding. 
Love adoring, now and forevermore; 

Thus in Christ confiding. 
In Him, through Him, I will mv (lod adore. 



70 THREADS OF GOLD. 



LIFE'S PURPOSE. 



How much in life that doth enthrall, 

Inviting to unrest, 
Alluring^ thing's that prompt the wilj, 

In turmoil seeking rest. 
Onward they rush with eager haste, 
Seeking some unknown resting place. 



Why rush along, so often said, 
On life's uneven way? 

By some motive to be thus led 

Blindly, they dare not say — 

Upon whose path falls not a gleam, 

An uncertaint3' stands between. 



Life gathers to itself a force 

Entirely its own, 
Moulding its own uneven course. 

To destiny is borne. 
Held underneath environed swaj', 
Its mandates strictly to obey. 



LIFE'S PURPOSE. 71 



But what of life: doth it soar? 

Or by some weight is bent? 
No nobler action to adore 

The course on which it went. 
Blind unbelief can never see 
What is to come, or what may be. 



Amid confusion, toil and care, 

Can give no earnest thought 

For joys supreme or place to share, 
Because they w^ere not sought; 

Instead of drifting down the stream, 

Making life but a passing dream, 



We live to die — no reason wlu- 

We should not die to live; 
Success thus comes to those who tr3-, 

And help divine receive; 
From Him thus draw the strength 3 f)u need- 
It is to-day you might succeed. 



72 THREADS OF GOLD. 



LET THERE BE LIGHT. 



What is doubt? 
Void of intellect: supremely grand 
To know, believe, yea, to understand; 
Life's nij'steries blending all about, 
God's own creation without a doubt — 

Divinely grand 

To understand — 
Without a doubt my soul to thrill, 
With light and knowledge thus to fill. 

What is sight? 
Not mountain peaks, those I daily see; 
But their foundations to be upheaved. 
To see things unseen, as in a flash — 
Mighty orbs beneath, above, how vast— 

Divinelj' grand 

To understand. 
To mortal sight might come the light 
That giveth light to mortal sight. 

What is trust? 
To rest like mountains upon their beds; 
In storm or calm their own shadow spreads 
Like a mantle o'er the dreary plain. 
They stand in grandeur, their peace maintain 

Divinel}' grand 

To understand 
Lessons of trust those tnountains teach. 
Silent and dumb, to mortals preach. 



LET THERE BE LIGHT. 73 



What is truth? 
What is the sun? Do I understand 
Its language, or strength of flaining brands': 
Or ocean beds that lie fathoms deep, 
Infinite silence, thus loudl}" speak; 

Divinelj' grand 

To understand. 
Without a doubt tiij' mind to fill — 
With such a truth my soul enthrill. 

What is faith? 
To believe; to see God's finger there; 
Infinite wisdom 1 inay thus share, 
Unrivalled mjster}' thus inspires 
Belief in (iod, kindling desires 

Divinely grand, 

To understand 
God's touch on ever3-thing that stands, 
So near b}^ or in distant lands. 

What is light? 
Illuminating gleams from whose source. 
Dispelling darkness through its course, 
Silent, 3'et strong, giving light to all. 
Those ethereal gleams from God doth fall. 

Divinely grand 

To understand 
The power of light, beaming bright ! 
God hath spoken: " Let there be light." 



74 THREADS OF GOLD. 



WHERE. O WHERE? 



Where is the spring-time, the beautiful spring. 
That made our hearts with such gladness ring? 
Where are the showers of the spring-time rain, 
That fell from the clouds, in showers it came; 
Dropping and dancing, merry the sound, 
Pouring from eaves in streams to the ground? 
It has disappeared; what good hath it done, 
So parched is the earth, away it has gone. 



Where is the summer, with da3'S long and warm. 
And its thunder storms, that filled with alarm? 
Where are the fields, loaded with golden grain, 
And all the song-birds found in field and lane? 
Where are the summer fruits the trees did bear. 
With all the sweet joj's of autumn so rare? 
All silentl}' past; no, nothing remains- 
It *s impossible to alwaj'S retain. 



WHERE, O WHERE? 75 



Where is the winter, that came with King Frost' 

It has disappeared, its tokens all lost; 

In spiral beauty long icicles made 

With fantastic gems on the window pane, 

Beautiful frostings in silence arrayed, 

The rippling water was silentl^^ stay'd; 

Bj' genial rays, from the spring-time sun, 

The work of Kins: Frost was once more undone. 



Where are the drifts of the Jjeautiful snow. 
That blocked all the roads a short time ago; 
The ground all covered with beautiful white. 
That fell in the night, so softlj^ and light? 
It laj- all around, glistening and bright, 
But now it has gone clear out of our sight; 
We look all around, not a vestige remains 
Upon the housetop, in the fields or lanes. 



Where are the women, and where are the men— 

We ask the question again and again; 

O where are the girls, and where are the boys? 

Be up and doing, but don't make a noise; 

It's silent service of heroic deeds. 

Integrity of soul that grandlj- leads; 

For all such powers there is ample room — 

Be up and doing, j^ou pass awaN- soon. 



76 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Waste not 3'our life in moments of despair — 
Crosses and trials may be hard to bear; 
Hope ma}^ seem vain, but bepatient and still. 
Take hold of life's task with a strength of will; 
What 5^ou undertake faithfnll}' fulfill — 
Life to the finish, is 3'our life-work still. 
Come, give to the world j^our best endeavor — 
Cowardly retreat, never, no, never. 



Kver and ever, thing's will soon sever, 
In spite of 3^our will or best endeavor; 
Life will disappear, just like melted snow. 
But once in awhile things go wrong and slow — 
Some seeds that we sow take longer to grow; 
Our joys and sorrows, where do they all go? 
But what of your lives? Something will remain- 
Memor}- will live, forgotten is pain. 



Nothing in this world is forever lost, 
Be it winter, summer, snow or keen frost; 
Everything that comes in season to earth, 
In wisdom given the time of its birth. 
Whatever it be, be it loss or gain, 
At some future time will come back again. 
The seasons exist; they all do some good : 
So with us mortals, if we onlv uoiilfl. 



THE NEW BIRTH. 77 



THE NEW BIRTH. 



" Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye 
must be born again."— John 3 ch,, 7 v. 



I SAT and mused, with thoughts within 
My heart ; each thought was stained by sin. 
' Why came I thus upon this sphere, 
Like some coward in constant fear?" 

Where'er I be, where'er I stand- 
in valleys deep, or mountain land, 
At early morn, or midnight drear— 
My soul aflame with constant fear." 

From childhood days those fears began, 
Storm clovids my pathway thus did span, 
I knew not what they would unfold, 
In constant dread I did behold. 

A sin-cursed world I thus did find 
With evil tendencies combined ; 
To go astray, yea, cursed of God, 
I lived in fear beneath the rod. 

Not I, but sin, that God did hate, 
Whilst he in love did thus await, 
That I a victory might win 
And thus o'ercome that dread of sin. 



78 THREADS OF GOLD. 



A victory ! How strange it seemed^ 
Deceptive, like a midnight dream ! 
In a moment I did awake, 
As if some friend to me did spake. 

Whilst beset with besetting sin, 

A thought arose from depths within, 

I turned, another path I trod, 

To find I thus cominuned with God. 



I became a judge just and wise ; 

It was a truth not in disguise, 

To discern between righ t and wrong. 

I thus to God, through Christ, belong. 

'Twas a new birth, sublime, divine, 
I thus possessed ; I knew 't was mine. 
The mystery I could not understand 
To me appeared divinely grand. 

I thanked my God for wisdom great. 
From such a source he could create 
Life, a life thus excelling far 
The glory of the morning star. 

Angels in heaven stand amazed 
Whilst on redemption's plan they gaze. 
My God adore, I fill a place 
Where angel feet wouldn't dare to trace. 



LIFE'S MISSION. 79 



LIFE'S MISSION. 



What is my bein^, birth and state? 
Are they weak or substantial things? 
Do they not tend to draw my fate 
That is coming- on silent wings 

In its own time? 

Not thine, but mine, 
When I shall slumber in the grave 
That has been made by pick and spade. 

This life is one great battle field, 
Where proud laurels are lost and won ; 
Manhood's honor we must not yield 
In life's conflict of noise and din. 

Early or late 

We seal our fate. 
By words and deeds, or silent breath, 
We seal our fate to life or death. 

What seekest thou for thine own brow? 
Garlands wove from noxious weeds, 
Or something far more glorious — 
A crown of life victorious. 

Given to him 

Who lives to win 
A place amongst the wise and juat, 
Whose glory mingles not with dust. 



8o THREADS OF GOLD. 



Some men with pen their fame secure. 
As for the right they stand like men ; 
Others with hoe their toil endure 
From early morn to the time when 

The sun doth set 

Down in the west. 
In his silent toil he doth preach 
Wisdom beyond some inortals' reach. 



Some men with tongues of anger fight 
To gain their little selfish end, 
Whilst others sing from morn till night. 
Sweetness with song doth sweetly blend. 

Grand and sublime 

Throughout all time, 
An inspiration to the rest. 
Their every thought and action blest. 



This present life, a real thing, 
Its identity never lost. 
Impelling motives to the wing, 
We are living, but at what cost 
Of act or thought 
By life thus wrought 
In texture fair, a life subliine. 
Or spoiled by sin. Which life is thine': 



A VISIT TO THE CEMETERY. 8l 



A VISIT TO THE CEMETERY. 



I ENTERED through the gates, within those sacred walls, 
And trod that lonel3' path, a scene so solemn falls ; 
Without warning given, and yet no inward dread, 
I feel as if I stand amongst the sleeping dead, 
For there they lie. 



The business ot the day had passed, and eventide 
Came on. I was alone, with death on ever}^ side. 
A silver}' ray of light came through the clouds and shone 
Upon those stones. "In Memory," one by one 
I passed them b}'. 



A school of thought is there, although it's fathoms deep. 
O'er every grave some one has been brought to weep; 
Each grave retains its historj^ at last to tell 
There is a life confined in every narrow cell 
Beneath the ground. 



A solemn thought steals o'er the mind, when brought to 

rest 
Upon those grassy mounds that cover ev'ry breast; 
Their heads laid low, there is now no distinction made 
By death, in its triumphant arms all are laid, 
For there they lie. 



8£ THREADS OF GOLD. 



The saints of God are there, arid sinners dwell at ease 
Beneath those blades of ^rass that sway beneath the 

breeze 
Of summer's eve, peaceful and calm; no, not a sound 
Resounds within those vaults of death, beneath the 

ground. 

In slumber lie. 



Their names are there, inscribed upon tablets of stone, 
I may read, yet unto me they are all unknown. 
Not so with God. His eye doth guard the sleeping dust — 
He knows each one, and all that placed in him their trust. 
Whilst there they lie. 



Some are there without a stone, and I could not tell, 
But for the mound, that some one did earth's bosom swell. 
Only a grave, they say, but ah! I cannot trace 
Those lives, thej" may have run the heavenward race: 
I passed them by. 



Age after age is placed within the narrow cell, 
A place thus appointed for each, for all to dwell ; 
Only for a season shall the cold earth enclose — 
Until the trumpet's blast shall break their long repose 
Beneath the ground. 



A VISIT TO THE CEMETERY. 83 



The3^ shall awake ; the sleeping dust shall then arise 
From earth's embrace and stand amidst the flaming skies; 
The earth shall shake, and hearts shall quake with an- 
guish sore, 
iFor it shall then have been proclaimed,'" Time is no more," 
When they arise. 



1 shall be there, and at the call I must arise 
To meet my Judge upon his throne with glad sufprise, 
Or stand condemned before that throne, no refuge near 
To shield my soul from wrath, judgment to fear. 
When I arise. 



O solemn thought, to stand within these walls with death. 
Whilst words so soleinn fall, hear what the Scripture 

saith : 
"They shall all come forth," all that are within those 

graves. 
And over ever}' one judgment or mefc}- waves. 
For there thej' lie. 



So it is now; so it shall be unto the end. 
O Lord, unto iti)^ crj' do thou in mercy lend 
Thine ear, that when I take my place beneath the sod, 
May my soul, through Christ's blood, be found to dwell 
with God, 

When I arise. 



84 THREADS OF GOLD. 



HARVEST. 



Harvest is past, the bearded grain has been gathered 

home. 
The joyous song of harvest by maidens has been borne, 
Reapers have come and gone, and the golden harvest 

o'er. 
Golden sheaves have been gathered ainidst the yeoman's 

roar. 



Yea, all the fruits of earth have been safelj^ gathered in, 
The wheat is in the garner, filled to the topmost brim; 
Whilst orchard fruits were gathered, and all are safe in 

store — 
Gathered in abundance upon the store-house floor. 



To thee, O man, the earth her abundant increase yields — 
Unto thee an hundred fold, now gathered from thy fields; 
The earth to thee of her yearly increase doth unfold, 
And upon each stem and blade of grass were gems of 
gold. 



HARVEST. ■ 85 



Harvest is past, which giveth rest to the fruitful field, 
After the labor to bring forth an abundant yield ; 
Thus all verdure with its beauty doth fade and decaj'. 
Till everj- vestige of the summer must pass a\vaj\ 



Autumn's tints are pressed upon the richlj- laden vines. 
Their own beautj^ is interchangeci with the forest pines ; 
Thus gladness reigns underneath the autumn's shadowj'^ 

wings, — 
With jo}' behold the giver of all, the King of Kings. 



O solemn thought, slothful in soul, thj' harvest is past. 
Thou hast gathered nothing in store, then want comes at 

last ; 
Impoverished and forsaken, wantonness shall yield 
Disappointment, thou shalt reap on the waste and barren 

field. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE PRINCE OF ISRAEL. 



It 's the "Prince of Peace," and the earth's most mighty 

king. 
Multitudes thronged his way, their loud hosannas ring; 
It's heaven's born prince, he goes on his triumphant way, 
He comes with kingly power, and with a monarch's sway. 
Hosanna to the Son of David ! 

He moves that ancient city as never moved before. 
Rulers were sore displeased, and vexed with anguish sore; 
That mighty Prince no honors from the self-righteous 

craved, 
He received loyal gifts from those who freely gave. 
Hosanna to the Son of David ! 

Multitudes came and laid their gartnents in his way, 
And strewed the trodden pathway with colors fair and 

The poor man had no garment to lay down as his gift. 
Yet brought branches cut down from the trees, strewed 
therewith. 

Hosanna to the Son of David ! 

They sought to honor,- by their gifts, the Prince of Peace. 
Onward they came, as thej' came their jo3'ous song in- 
creased; 
It knew no bounds, like some great mighty thunder's roar, 
A joyous song of triumph that echoed on before. 
Hosanna to the Son of David ! 

Loud in their praise, by their deeds they acknowledged 

thus — 
In joyous accord they said in truth, "This is Jesus." 
May I a loyal witness be to Him who came. 
And by my faith and deeds of love jo3'OUsly exclaim, 
Hosanna to the Son of David ! 



UNFOLDING. ' 87 



UNFOLDING. 



Leaf by leaf tender buds unfold, 
In silent nijstery untold — 
A living force doth burst their cell, 
Into life the}' came, thus to dwell. 



i 

Leaf by leaf unfolds; but to fall — 
The doom is written over all; 
They clothe anew the leafless tree 
And live to fade, and so do xve. 



At early morn the day unfolds. 
Bringing- messages still untold ; 
Our waking thoughts from slumber rise. 
That touches what may yet surprise. 



Each da}^ of life is but a leaf 

That comes and goes, alas, how brief ! 

For a purpose they do unfold 

Into life, and we soon grow old. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



Each life a leaf, so soon to fade — 
With all its beauty, fades away, 
Thvis to blend with crumbling clay, 
That seems to end life's earthly day. 



To what purpose the life we live? 
Not all to live, but what we give; 
A life of service is the best — 
With God the giver leave the rest. 



It's only just to fill one's place. 
And Life's great problem thus to trace- 
Each daj' a gift that may unfold 
Graces like jewels set in gold. 



The day of life will soon be past, 

Its destiny forever cast ; 

To what purpose doth life unfold 

Life's great secret, by what controlled ? 



CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOME. 



* CHRISTMAS AT THE OLD HOME. 



Is it well Avith the loved ones at home? 
Ever near to my heart do thej- seem ; 
Mj' love unto them is often borne 
In a message by mail o'er the sea. 

What changes have been wrought over there, 
In that far away home o'er the sea? 
What bitterness of sorrow and care 
Comes in tender epistles to me. 

The glad tidings of Christmas returns, 
But what pangs will it bring to their hearts? 
For their love to a loved one still burns. 
So recentl}' divided apart. 

Yes, one less at the table 'twill seem, 
And a chair will stand vacant and lone— 
No voice, nor a face like a sunbeam. 
For the old folks in solitude mourn. 



* This was written after the death of my sister, who had 
lived at home until the day of her death, and the old folks wen- 
left all alone. 



go THREADS OF GOLD. 



Yes, the dear old parents are at home, 

Not a child of their own do they greet, 

As the days of the past, often borne. 

On their lips "Merry Christmas," how sweet ! 

I 'm away from that home over there; 
In the inorning, at noon and at night 
I breathe from my lips for them a prayer; 
Those loved ones are not lost to my sight. 

Something prompts me this evening to take 
My pen; a voice thus whispers: "Write home 
A letter of comfort for their sake. 
This Christmas they feel so sad and lone." 

It's the promptings of love in the breast. 
The prompting of an impulse divine; 
In spirit I will go as their guest, 
And my letter like a sunbeam shine. 

This may be the last Christmas for them, 
In the journey of life they niaj' see; 
That home iiei^er more will be home, when 
There is only just one left — that's me. 

That home has been so real and true ; 
Its memories I '11 never forget; 
I hope somewhere again to renew, 
After my sun on this sphere has set. 



THE DYING BABE. 



THE DYING BABE. 



Our dear little babe is sinking-, 

Mother 's weeping- ; 
Troubled hearts are filled with sighing — 

Babe is d5ung ; 
Manj' e3'es are filled with tears, 

Through nian}^ fears; 
The little life is ebbing fast — 

Death conies at last. 



Death's hand is seen, it cannot sta3', 

It takes away; 
That mother's heart doth throb with grief 

With no relief — 
The parent's joy is torn away; 

Death's had its sway; 
The little form is left behind 

A grave to find. 

The blinds are drawn, a gloom}- shade 

Doth all invade; 
Footprints of death are thus made bold, 

Sorrow untold ; 
" Silence, silence,'' Death seems to sa}', 

"Abides to-daj." 
The footsteps fall with gentle tread — 

The babe is dead. 



92 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Smiles of joy are changed into o-looni, 

The cot, the tomb; 
Filled with the presence of the dead, 

In sorrow led, 
Vacant space on that mother's breast, 

Where babe did rest, 
Those loving- arms may clasp the moxild. 

Alas ! it 's cold. 

The outward form is there alone, 

Its fragrance gone, 
The eyes are closed as if in sleep; 

Through grief they weep — 
" Mj^ child, my child !" that mother cries; 

Before her lies 
Their infant babe, in death so sweet — 

The parents weep. 

Weep not for her, but stay your grief 

And find relief; 
Gaze upward through your weeping eyes, 

Beyond the skies — 
Downward into the narrow cell. 

Our babe, farewell; 
No voice, no sound, the grave doth give — 

Our babe receive. 

The earth shall shield that infant form 

From sin and scorn; 
No troubled wave shall cross its breast — 

Our babe shall rest. 
Our babe doth live bej^ond the skies, 

The body dies. 
W^e'll strive to gain that other shore. 

To part no more. 



5- YNON VMO US. 93 



SYNONYMOUS. 



Through winter months the barren field so bare 
Had laid long- its own barrenness to share — 
Devoid of all life and rich verdure fair, 
Desolation and death to it compare. 



The cattle, in their anxious search for food, 
Beheld the barrenness that thus ensued ; 
With their eager eyes and with bated breath, 
Fled from the scene as desolate as death. 



Through winter months it lay a drear}- waste 
And from it man and beast did turn with haste; 
From north to south and from east to west 
Death all around those silent realms did rest. 



The spring-time came, and with its azure skies 
Soon that field would become a paradise ; 
Whilst showers made the living waters flow. 
And the plowman went forth in hope to sow. 



With his heavy steps and his sturd}- stride, 
He traveled over its surface broad and wide, 
And with the plow he made those furrows deep 
Before he could expect an harvest reap. 



94 THREADS OF GOLD. 



By faith he sowed with a liberal hand 
Seed o'er all that broad acreag^e of land ; 
The scene was changed into a fruitful field. 
Of golden grain, at harvest it would 3'ield. 



Harvest came, and it was the same strong hand 
Went forth to reap, o'er that same piece of land ; 
Ripened sheaves he bound with a golden band— 
The shade thereof like the glittering sand. 



'T was the joy of harvest, a sweet refrain, 
A full reward for all his toil and pain ; 
It thus returned to him an hundred fold, 
Thus filling his purse with silver and gold. 



Like the gentle touch of some friendly hand. 
It thus brought joy within that household band 
That father, mother, and the children dear — 
With firm trust in God, what had they to fear? 



Thus the seasons came and the seasons passed - 
'Twas sowing and reaping whilst life did last — 
Daily duties done without undue haste. 
Whilst nothing was allowed to run to waste. 



J YNON YMO US. 95 



From childhood to manhood the children grew, 
The lasses' lovers came, and they withdrew 
From the home circle, until none was left, 
The old folks of children were thus bereft. 



But the children's children came one by one. 
When the old folks' toiling was almost clone; 
Their well-wrought lives had thus been greatlj' blest ; 
God whispered: " Well done; from 3-our labors rest." 



But what of those whose life a field so bare 
None of God's blessing they desired to share? 
Desolate and bereft of all that's fair, 
Unto a barren field their lives compare. 



Blessings and mercies had thus run to waste. 
Whilst ruin and death came bounding with haste, 
Fruits of the seed thej^ had sown within 
Their hearts, they at last reaped the fruits of sin. 



Opportunities had passed, one by one ; 
They had been neglected — life's work undone. 
Such ill-spent lives, to the ver3' last breath. 
So sad ! What now awaits? Eternal cleuth. 



96 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE OLD YEAR SLOWLY DYING. 



" For ye have the poor with you always, and when- 
soever ye will ye may do them good." — Mark. 14:7. 



Deep lie the winter's snows 
On city streets, throngh country glens — 

O'er all the cold wind blows ; 
Here and there a traveler wends 

His way on that cold night 
To firesides warm, where scenes are bright, 

Whilst the wind was sighing 
And the old year slowly dying. 



So bleak and cold that night ! 
Its chilly blast so sharp and keen — 

Went sweeping in its might, 
Piling snow-drifts higher just between 

The homes with their joyful glow; 
They had no fear of wind or snow, 

Whilst the storm was vjing 
And the old year slowly dying. 



THE OLD YEAR SLOWLY DYING. 97 



O'er the homes of the poor 
It raged in greater strength and might; 

Dwellings were insecure, 
Where fierce the conflict on that night, 

Fires low, and thinlj- clad ; 
Cold and hunger was all they had — 

Human hearts are sighing. 
And the old year slowlj' djdng. 

" I am cold," said one voice, 
" I am hungr}'," another chimed ; 

And pale, worn cheeks were moist. 
Trials great noble hearts did bind 

With want and lack of bread ; 
That night a mother's tears were shed — 

Her sad heart was sighing, 
And the old 3'ear slowly djnng. 

Fiercer grew the gale. 
Whilst darker still the fire-glow burned ; 

Again that same sad wail, 
" I am so cold." None could discern 

The need but that mother, 
Who robbed herself thus to cover 

Her offspring, with a sigh. 
As she lay down, herself, to die. 

" I 'm hungrj'," cold lips spake, 
They echoed faintly through the room; 

No hand the food did take. 
Cold and hunger those lives consumed. 

" Ye have the poor with you," 
Said He. His word, how sad, but true, 

When the cold wind doth blow, 
Think of the poor, close by your door. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



At last the daylight broke 
O'er city streets and country glen, 

And many thus awoke; 
" Happy New Year! " their voices blend, 

As with bright smiles they gazed 
On those snow-drifts the storm had raised ; 

Protected through the night, 
Now hailed the " New Year" with delight. 

Yes, just across the way, 
In that home by the drifted snow, 

Dawned the same " New Year" day 
That would reveal a scene of woe. 

Mother and children lay 
Unconscious of that " New Year Day"; 

In the home where they dwelt 
The frozen pangs of death had felt. 

Wherever life be cast, 
May we perform some noble deed, 

For life is ebbing fast. 
In fruitful soil thus sow your seed — 

Help the poor in their need, 
"And ye have done it unto me." 

Go when the wind is sighing. 
Clothe the naked, watch the dying. 

This year may be our last, 
And with it we may also die. 

Allow it not to pass ; 
You can help some one, if 3'ou try — 

Fill some poor heart with jo\^; 
Your talents use in sweet employ, 

Life is a blessed thing, 
If out of it some good doth spring. 



THE COMING STORM, 99 



THE COMING STORM. 



The angry clouds do gather fast, and indications given, 
A storm is near : behold it conies, with angry tempest 

driven; 
An angry sky, the darkened clouds, the thunder's roaring 

peal, 
The lightning flash, the sweeping storm — we cannot help 

but feel 

That God is near. 



He rides upon the wings of wind, at his command it 

comes ; 
God rules above, and on the earth, within the raging 

storms; 
His power alone can then be seen, as we in awe behold, 
In majest}-, j'et in power, the storm by him controlled, 
For God is near. 



Nearer it comes, and darker grows, as in the vault of 

night ; 
The thunder's peal, the lightning flash, true emblems of 

, his might ; 
And forests bow their spired heads beneath the storm 

that reigns. 
As if to say. Ride over all, majestic in its train, 
When God is near. 

L.orc. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



The storm is past, the clouds withdraw, and sunbeam's 
smiling ray 

Beams once again upon the earth, with rain-drops spark- 
ling gay. 

Birds join again into a song beneath the brightened sk3', 

The earth refreshed — all seem to say, with one united cry. 
That God is near. 

The storms of life are passing, too; dark clouds do gather 

round, 
Obscure our path, all light withdrawn, no pleasure can 

be found ; 
Yet in the midst such trials trust in Him who rules on 

high— 
Thj' sweetest thought be ever this, to break the troubled 

sigh, 

That Christ is near. 

The greatest storm is yet to pass; art thou prepared to see 
Those angry waves of death invade thyself, thy spirit 

free? 
Prepare thyself before it comes, the only refuge seek; 
Then in the midst the storm of death thou hast a safe 

retreat. 

With Christ so near. 

The storm shall pass, the clouds withdraw, the sunbeam's 

smiling ray 
Shall shine on thee and never set, through life's eternal 

da^^ 
Rapturous song b}' heaven's throng, beyond a stormy sky; 
Alleluiah, th}" song shall be, in one triiimphant cr^-, 
When Christ is near. 



HOME, SWEET HOME. 



HOME, SWEET HOME. 



Amidst pleasures And cares I often do roam, 
I find in those journeys no place like my home- 
As duty may call me to go here and there, 
The sweet comforts of home I find not elsewhere. 

Its sympathy and love I seek for in vain. 
Until I return to nj}^ home once again ; 
The world may allure, and its pleasures may call, 
But the cotMforts of home outweighs them all. 



Im])ressive the scenes, on my mind and m^- heart, 
They throb, as it were, like great statues of art ; 
Its voices by daj', or its slumbers by night. 
Scenes of the home circle, are filled with delight. 



The cribs where my children lie snu :; and so warm- 
Refuge for the wee ones, where nothing can harm ; 
I often go in as thej' rest in their sleep, 
And pray the dear Father their slumbers to keep. 

Each one like a jewel de.si ;ned for a i)l ice, 
The joy of my heart is the sight of each face ; 
Those longings of heart, as 1 from them ma3' roam. 
Awakens deep yearnings for my home, sweet home. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



When the brood is all grown their presence shall fly, 
Like birds of the air, between earth and the sky; 
As birds from their nest, yes, away they shall go, 
With tho'ts buried deep, there is no place like home. 



Home life, like a vision, must come to an end — 
Some day the messenger of death shall descend ; 
The links shall be broken, its light shall be spent, 
Like a garment once whole, in twain shall be rent. 



First one, then another, must pass on before — 
The accents of voices be heard nevermore. 
But those that are left, as they daily shall roam. 
Shall fancy sweet fancies of the dear old home. 



From the depths of mj^ sovil, I wish we may meet 
In the far-away home, each other to greet ; 
The song from each lip and the 303^ of each heart 
Shall arise from the thought no more we shall part. 



Some wee little trinket stares me in the face, 

The ownership thereof no longer I trace, 

While tear-drops start and the heart is made sad, 

But home shall be home when we meet and are glad. 



THE BETTER WAY. 



THE BETTER WAY. 



How many paths in life there be to lead one soul astray ! 
One there is, and only one, that leads the narrow way. 
Stay, m3' soul, which shalt thou take, before thy race be 

run? 
Shalt thou choose the broadest path, thou art a wretch 

undone. 

One presents a joyous life, in what the world calls good. 

Wisdom calls for thee to choose the right and narrow 
road. 

Joys forever bright and fair, and all true pleasures find, 

Enter thou the straightest gate and leave the world be- 
hind. 

Count the cost and make W\y choice, the present hour 

employ — 
Choose the good and seal thj^ vow, let not the world decoy; 
Drink the bitter, then the sweet shall follow in its sway — 
Joys triumphant to behold in everlasting day. 

Things now seen must pass away, and all things seemed 

forgot, 
Take the Word to be thy guide, His word shall fail thee 

not. 
Shun the road that leads to death, heed not its pleasant 

voice, 
Let thy conscience only speak, I've made a wiser choice. 



I04 THREADS OF GOLD. 



MARY'S VISIT TO THE SEPULCHRE. 



It was dark whilst Mary pressed her lonely way 

Before the gleam that comes just at dawn of day; 

Her anxious heart had throbbed through that anxious 

night, 
She could not wait until the dawn for morning light ; 
Her own heart touched with a tenderness divine, 
And love with a fervency did brightly shine. 

With throbbing heart to the silent tomb she pressed, 
Carrying doubts and fears within her breast ; 
Each step brought her nearer to that lonel}' tomb ; 
With feelings like fiery flames her heart consumed. 
As she in her great anxiety drew near, 
The stone was rolled away, filling her mind with fear. 

She carried precious spices, thus to anoint 
With its perfume the dead bodj^ of her King. 
Whilst to the sepulchre she was returning, 
Lo ! a sudden fear burst forth, it was burning 
Within her breast : her Lord's body was not there — 
He those sepulchre walls now no longer share. 

It was the living Christ that did await her, 

On that resurrection morn, his joy to share — 

To the tomb she came to anoint, not the dead, 

He had already risen, as he had said ; 

A few more silent steps and she would thus meet 

The risen Lord, that she in the tomb would seek. 



MARVS VISIT TO THE SEPULCHRE. io=; 



Whilst anxious thoujrhts upon her mind reposes, 

As her final journey to the tomb thus closes, 

To test her faith that empty tomb so trying, 

With longings deep for ber Lord she was sighing ; 

That body had become to her heart so dear — 

No longer there, that tomb, so dark, lone and drear. 



As she thus stood speechless, with wonder gazing 
Into that dark, lone totnb, yet without tracing 
What had taken place during that long, long night, 
Behold the risen Lord appeared to her sight 
In living forin, but her weeping eyes were dim ; 
She did not discern that he who spake nas him. 



"O woman, wh}' weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? 

Fell upon her ear, as she in grief did bow. 
" If thou hast borne him hence," to him did say, 
"Tell me where, and I will now take him away." 

Ah, troubled soul, look upward and thou shalt see 

Who it is that is speaking thus to thee. 



Once more that gentle voice, like music stealing, 
Thrill'd her soul once more with such a sacred feeling. 

'' Mary," he said, in calmness, thus appealing. 

"Touch me not," her wondering heart enthrilling. 
It was the Lord that had spoken unto her. 
And she in rapture a risen Lord did share. 



io6 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE NOBLE KNIGHT. 



Brave was the old-time knight, 
Equipped for any field, 
His name a pledge to fight 
With spear and sword and shield. 



In manhood he was strong, 
His heart so brave and true 
He to the knight belonged, 
Whatever might ensue. 



He had an arm of strength 
That dealt its deadly blow, 
His honor was his wealth. 
Foes he did overthrow. 



Brave were those knights of old — 
They fought as men should fight, 
With courage strong and bold. 
In warfare for the right. 



Within their castle walls 
They kept their armor bright. 
Ready at every call 
To go forth to the fight. 



THE NOBLE KNIGHT. 107 



Such men in ever}' age 
Are needed in their day, 
Ready to thus engage 
Their powers in the fra}'. 



Knights powerful and strong, 
Fearless of any foe, 
To knighthood they belonged, 
Would not their pledge forego. 



In name we find an host — 
In spirit but a few; 
It 's knights we need the most 
Who to their pledge are true. 



We need the robust men. 

In everj' fiber sound ; 

On those you can depend, 

That firmly stand their ground. 



Not cowards, but true men. 
That in their place abide, 
Who will not betray, when 
Whatever may betide. 



io8 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Knights not cowards we need 
To fight our battles now — 
Action and noble deeds 
Sincere to everj^ vow. 



To stand their ground like nieri 
In these sad, evil daj^s, 
To speak out like men 
When danger thus betra3^s. 



Thousands of men by name, 
In spirit, but a few, 
Old battle grounds reclaim, 
Girded with strength anew. 



Men that will stand their ground, 
Advocate what is right, 
With courage thus abound, 
To stand in manhood's might. 



It 's not the goody kind, 
That's everybody's friend ; 
But principle to bind, 
True helping hand to lend. 



THE NOBLE KNIGHT. 109 



Your thoughts in right moulds cast 
Equipped for service true, 
Principle that will last, 
And to your manhood true. 



Be on the knighthood list 
In spirit and in name ; 
On principle insist, 
To honor, not to shame. 



Then keep your armor bright, 
And stand as one that stood ; 
Don't think your duties light, 
Nor drink of guilty blood. 



Stand on the side of right. 
Your courage never fail ; 
A daily record bright, 
Whatever may assail. 



A true knight in God's might. 
And to a purpose true ; 
Valiant, noble knight, 
As a knight dare do. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



AN IMMORTAL SOUL. 



Why was I made, with all \\\y powers of reason and of 

will — 
With what design, or object sought, that I some sphere 

might fill ? 
Kecoil my tho'ts, as with a blast, at information sought, 
Responsible I know I am, in that I have been taught. 



Man's dut3^ is, I know at last, to serve some nobler end 
Than sinful lust or base design, which to destruction 

tend ; 
A mortal frame (but that 's not all of which a man may 

boast) 
Infinitely, bej^ond all doubt, is given to his trust. 



The "Great I Am," who formed the man and made the 
outward mould, 

Consigned in it — ah! what was it? Doth it remain un- 
told? 

Take His own word, it doth reveal, let its own light con- 
trol : 

"Let us make man," and breathe in him — ah! what? ''A 
living soul." 



AN I MM OR TAL SOUL. 



"A living- soul," that ever lives, beyond all bounds of time; 
Contract that life, debar its end, is an enormous crime. 
The object gained shall prove thy loss, if thou in error 

bind 
That soul of thine by sinful chains, and with the world 

combine. 



Many there are who gladly boast, nor death nor danger 

fear. 
It's that within that often speaks and tells us God is near. 
Heed not their voice, pay no regard to all thej^ bring thee 

forth— 
Go not with thetu, escape, for they are crushed before the 

moth. 



A grand design, a noble end, conceived in God's own 
mind ; 

When man was made, by his own hand, all faculties com- 
bined. 

Thy soul must live and is designed to fill a station fair 

Or sink beneath the depths of woe in hell. O, is it there?' 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



Before the throne thy place can be, and, clothed in bright 
array, 

Angels behold redemption's plan, yet take no part can 
the}'; 

In song sublime, " Worthy of Lamb," before the throne 
shall sing, 

With golden harps, redemption song, with joyful glad- 
ness ring. 



Wonderful love it is to me, that Jesus laid aside 

His own glory and came to earth, for man to bleed and 

die; 
He saw alone the triumph well that such an action sought, 
Let blood bought souls each one ascribe, He my salva- 
tion bought. 



Wisdom divine, that plan'd my state, and made the wa}' 
so plain, 

O Lord, forbid that such as I should thy great love dis- 
dain. 

Admire I will with thankful heart the end conceived by 
me 

Through God's own word, my future state, through all 
eternity. 



TEMPTATION. 113 



TEMPTATION. 



O RESTLESS heart and anxious mind, 

Canst thoii not trace, 
Whilst in this world shalt thou not find 

A resting- place? 
In storm or calm, in health or pain, 
Be pvire in soul and thou shalt gain 
The victory, though almost slain 

Whilst in the race. 

Time and again comes that dark hour. 

To friends unknown, 
A deadlj' foe within th3' bower. 

And thou alone. 
As it assails and is thus bent, 
Canst thou perceive what may be meant 
Qy the temptation that is sent. 

When all alone? 

One evil thought maj' thus be born, 

A foe to thee ; 
At the dawn of life's pure morn 

Enthroned it be. 
Before thy gaze, its influence great, 
Consider thou what is at stake; 
Or to thj' shame thou shalt awake 

Disgrace to see. 

Be watchful thou, cease not to praj^, 

Thy task fulfill, 
And strive to do, b}- night 1)3^ daj-. 

The Master's will. 
Trust thou in him amidst thy fears, 
An hopeful smile press thro' th}' tears, 
Thus gaining strength for future j'ears, 

Thy soul enthrill. 



114 THREADS OF GOLD. 



ANGELO. 



A LONELY traveler walked the street 
Of an ancient city long ago ; 
Absorbed in thought, yet with weary feet, 
He pressed his way, without friend or foe; 
Though thinly clad, yet of noble birth, 
He possessed a soul of sterling worth. 



Onward he pressed, and his noble soul 

Expanded on that eventful day; 

'T was a master mind he did control. 

He beheld a stone as it thus lay 

On the highway without form or grace — 

A form of beauty his mind did trace. 



In that stone he saw an angel form — 
Though unproduced, in that stone it XAy. 
Other minds had passed it by with scorn, 
A stone of no value, they did say, 
But to Angelo it thus became 
An object of value, all the same. 



ANGELO. »i5 



Marble it was, though hidden from view- 
Thousands indifferent passed it by; 
But what from that stone would now ensue? 
The skill of an artist was going to trj^ 
Lifting the stone from its lowly bed 
To a place of honor, be it said. 



By washing it became pure and white, 
And the sculptor's soul with joy did glow 
As he thus beheld with keen delight 
That angel form out of it would grow. 
True, it was only a marble stone- 
In it something to his vision shone. 



For that object he toiled day and night, 
And by his wisdom he thus did trace. 
That angel form was revealed to sight, 
And from it came that angelic face. 
His toil was rewarded at the last. 
From that stone an angel form was cast. 



ii6 THREADS OF GOLD. 



INTELLIGENCE. 



Canst thou touch with intelligence other worlds, 
By their silent speech intelligence unfurls ; 
O'er all the Creator's wisdom doth control 
Those orbs that speak to an intelligent soul. 



Be it nature's realm or heaven's might}^ dome, 
Vast the knowledge in the school wherein we roam ; 
Appeals thus in wisdoin to thy plastic soul, 
Art thou seeking the intellectual goal. 

Its path marked out, though unseen by mortal men, 
Bj' a great teacher, who, in ages past, when 
He unlocked the gates of truth to all mankind, 
Bursting the bars of ignorance that did bind. 



If thou from this source remain through life unfed. 

And seek not his wisdom as thy dail}^ bread, 

A skeleton art thou, in substance a ghost — 

Thy lack of knowledge would condemn thee the most. 

Thirst thou for knowledge, and in th}^ da}' be wise. 
Learning how thou may'st enter paradise ; 
B}^ dilligence in the school of thought restore 
Thy standing, and thou shalt find the open door. 



A LOVING TRIBUTE. "7 



*A LOVING TRIBUTE. 



"And in their death they were not divided." — II. Sara. 1 ch., 2 3 v 



I STOOD beside a silent tomb. 
With anxious heart I had drawn near. 
Close by there flowed a living stream 
O'er sand and pebbles bright and clear. 



What memories of daj's now past 
Seemed everywhere around me cast, 
As I read those names one by one 
At noonday by the glowing- sun ! 



* A little incident connected with ray ministry brought me 
in contact with this family. Twenty years have passed, and the 
friendship still continues with the remaining member of the 
family. 



ii8 THREADS OF GOLD. 



The grassy mound with beautj^ sloped, 
Each blade of grass around me spoke ; 
Three forms beneath lay sleeping there, 
That my own life seemed thus to share. 



In life they were so real and true, 
And from them I can thus construe 
Thoughts from each individual life, 
As they lie thus removed from sight. 



Only by name I knew of two, 
Just before death did thus ensue. 
One of the three, a friend to me. 
His face it seems I almost see. 



Real is life, even in death — 
Listen to what the scripture saith: 
" Being dead, yet speaketh." How true 
That death cannot a life consume. 



Unconscious to the silent dead, 
I thus approach with silent tread, 
Let fall a tear upon the grass— 
My friend in death, I cannot pass. 



A LOVING TRIBUTE. ng 



My friend sleepeth his last long sleep ; 
By his grave-side I stand and weep. 
Somewhere, I cannot tell just where, 
We '11 meet again, life's joys to share. 



Farewell, my friend ; farewell to thee. 
It's death that parted thee and me, 
I visit now thy silent tomb 
Where sweet memories live to bloom. 



Thou living spring, cease not to flow, 
As in contrast with death below, 
That life and death, and death and life. 
Dwell side by side, but not in strife. 



Precious moments, they cannot last, 

I came, and I again must pass 

On my way, even to the end, 

When death's shadows around me blend. 



Farewell, my friend, the sigh, the tear — 
I'm thankful we are now so near, 
If I again should never see 
This sacred spot, so let it be. 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



*0I7R BELOVKD PRESIDENT. 



Our chief mag-istrate lies dead upon our shore. 
Most sacred ties have been snapped in twain, 

And our beloved President is now no more. 
By the dread assassin he was slain; 

In that critical moment danger drew nigh — 

By the anarchist he was doomed thus to die. 

Ah, cruel fate, that did lurk and thus await 
Where the nation's treasures did abound — 

Within our Columbia's Exposition gate 
In a moment stricken to the ground. 

With his foe stood face to face, the flash, the sound. 

By the bullet he was stricken to the ground. 

In a flash the nation's joy turned into grief, 
And a wail of sorrow reached the skies ; 

Millions of loyal subjects were forced to weep, 
As he was wounded before their eyes, 

Fatally. By the assassin's bullet's sting 

The nation's heart in sorrow was made to ring. 

The nation loved him, j'ea, she loves him now, 
From north to south and from east to west, 

As they together in sable grief doth bow. 
The nation's heart bleeds within her breast. 

As she bows her head and in her anguish cry: 
"My God, my God ! " She sees her President die. - 

* William McKinley, shot by Leon Czolgosz in Temple of 
Music, Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 6, 1901; 
died at Buffalo, Sept. 14, 1901. 



OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT. 



Lou-er the Stars and Stripes: they with us shall mourn 
O'er the nation's head in death so low, 

And at half mast they shall float from eve to morn. 
In grief together his name adore, 

Speak reverently underneath the pall of death — 

The life has gone, the most vital spark, his breath. 

The nation's chief laid low, even with the dust — 
By his sudden death our spirits crushed ; 

Whilst that vacant chair in the White House, so lone, 
Shines more lustrous than a monarch's throne. 

Tread softly, speak gently, grief our hearts consume. 

As we lay him away in the silent tomb. 

Ye heavens bow down and mingle with our grief — 
Through these trjang times thus guide us safe. 

Whilst o'er his demise we in our sorrow weep, 
We commend to thee our ship of state. 

Go thou before our face and thus guide our way — 

Bring us through the gloom into the light of day. 

We stand to-day through him where we never stood 

Before. " Cuba's Island " he has freed 
By the great sacrifice of our nation's blood — 

'Twas a noble act, sublime indeed. 
He's the noble hero of the present age, 
Written not with ink on our history's page. 

Our President's blood is crjang from the ground. 

And shall it to us thus cry in vain? 
Traitors within the camp ! It 's the bugle sound ! 

They our noble President have slain ! 
Justice it (lemands ! Shall we that justice give? 
To arms, if need be: our libertj' must live. 



THREADS OF GOLD, 



WHAT ARE WEP 



We rejoice in this land of our freedom. 
It echoes clear on the air like a bell ; 
Whoever can imagine the outcome? 
Will some prophet arise and foretell. 



There appears no resistance whatever 
Within the heart, or the mind, or the will. 
Man is getting ver}' wise and clever 
In other minds his belief to instill. 



Personal beliefs and doctrines all mixed, 
A prescription for selfishness and greed, 
Whilst each in his own profession is fixed, 
To give birth to petty schemes that they breed. 



We are whites and have become civilized, 
To our name be it so frequentlj^ said, 
And educated in all that is wise — 
Graduated a civilized biped. 



We seem wiser than the God who made us, 
And receive with disdain his commands. 
Foolisli is the doctrine of redemption. 
The invitation to repentance we withstand. 



iVHA T ARE WE ? 123 



It"'s the base-ball and pleasures on Sundays, 
To do according to our own sweet will, 
Oetting up with a heart-ache on Mondaj'S. 
-Because the world's fascinations enthrilL 



We smile and we frown at one another. 
Making life a continual warfare ; 
We know not our own sister or brother, 
Because the spirit of Christ is so rare. 



In wild selfishness we struggle and fight, 
Deteriuined some worldly honors to win, 
Until Christian profession — what a sight! 
It's become an abominable sin. 



It is selfishness from professor to priest. 
Many strive for position, nothing more. 
It 's difficult to distinguish, at least, 
The professor from sinner any more. 



In worldly wisdom what fools we dare be, 
Trifling with God's priceless libertj', 
Our eyes beclouded so we cannot see 
The glorj' of the world's nativit3% 



124 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Through human selfishness devices rule, 
Thus ignoring counsel that is divine. 
We stake heaven's honor as in a pool, 
Without a blush of shame, a dail}^ crime. 



Churches are all wrong, it's so often said — 
The gospel message getting worn and old ; 
To alluring objects millions are wed. 
Whilst scrambling daily for sordid gold. 



Be not so deceived, Christ speaks to you : 
"Rise and follow me," hast thou heard him say? 
It 's regeneration that must renew 
The same old gospel that we need to-daj-. 



Wilt thou be true, and loyal to thj' trust? 
Heed not vain mortals, what they saj^ or do. 
Be upright in life, sincere and just ; 
Someday He will whisper, '^Well done to you: 



Whate'er you do, don't let the Savior go — 
Your only hope for that eternal shore. 
In life's strong current, with its might}' flow. 
Can you afford to risk What goes before? 



NATURE'S TREASURES. 



* NATURE'S TREASTJRES. 



What are those silent sprigs that come to nie? 
Their far-off dwelling place I have not seen. 
Reveal to ine soinething. Where did j^ou dwell — 
On mountain slope or in some lovelj^ dell? 



Who were your companions by day, b)^ night, 
Through summer days or winter's chilly blight? 
Did any mortal coine with w^eary feet 
And stand by j'our side silently to weep. 



Silent watchers that sprang from mother earth, 
The spring-time showers gave to you your birth. 
To grow and thrive, silently to abjde 
Near b5' a friend of mine that lived and died. 



You fading stems, O speak to me of life 
W^here no struggles blend into mortal strife. 
You guarded the sleeping dust of m}' friend. 
In tenderness and love I o'er j'ou bend. 



* A Mend of mine lost his wife by death. She was a friend 
of mine. She was taken to another State for burial. A few 
days ago he visited her resting place. Whilst there he plucked 
a few sprigs from her gi-ave and sent them to me by mail. They 
suggested the above lines. 



126 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Your late dwelling- place I shall never see, 
Many miles thus roll between it and me. 
I am gflad j^ou came with your silent speech — 
In whisperings low sweet menaories preach. 

In tenderness I take you in my hand 
And fancy I see your own dear home land ; 
From whence you have come in safetj' to me, 
That lone grave, I fancy, through you I see. 

A sacred treasure to abide with me. 
To be near my side you always shall be ; 
I '11 think of your comrades you left behin.d, 
,And those links of friendship that now doth bind. 

I willingly would stand where you have stood, 

On wings wduld I fly, if I only could. 

I know that she rests in that narrow bed, 

O'er which human hearts in sorrow hath bled. 



As you thus lie before me, a tear thus falls 
From mine own eyes. It's your presence recalls 
To mind memories of days past and gone — 
I see them to-day from whence you have come. 

From earth we came, and to earth we return ; 
That thought by your presence I thus discern. 
When I from this earth with others have passed. 
We'll greet each other in heaven at last. 



WAKE UP, YE CHRISTIANS. 127 



WAKE UP, YE CHRISTIANS. 



Wake up, ye Christian neighbors, 

Be loyal to your name, 
Christ, the Son of God, is ours, 

Forevermore the same. 



Don't get beyond j^our Teacher 
In wisdom of this world ; 

Though every man's a preacher. 
The truth becomes absurd. 



See, strug'gling in a conflict. 
Thinking mig'ht is right. 

The spirit of the Master 
Lies buried out of sight. 



This life is just a whirlpool- 

A spirit of unrest, 
Like idiots in a school, 

With teacher like the rest. 



128 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Christ's kingdom is one of peace, 
And to your neighbor true, 

A gift from heaven at least, 
Christ caine to give to you. 



Instead of that a conflict — 
Worldliness to the core ; 

Side-issues are the watchword 
That makes one sick and sore, 



The Christian makes his burden 
That Christ does not approve, 

Aggravating heart and soul 
Because its false, not true. 



There's no reverence for God, 
Each one thus thinks he 's right 

The pathway the Master trod 
Lies hidden from one's sight. 



Christ came to give us freedom 
And sweetness to our life. 

But we have plunged in serfdom, 
Our life is one of strife. 



WAKE UP, YE CHRISTIANS. 129 



Wake up, ye Christian neighbors, 

Be loyal to your king. 
It's heaven or hell that's ours, 

But one away we {ling. 



Wake up, ye Christian neighbor, 
It's darkness of a night 

That's settling down upon us. 
Obscuring Christ from sight. 



Can hardly trust your neighbor. 

Or know who is your friend ; 
Far from your teacher drifted, 

Ah, what will be the end ? 



Wake up ! Don't plot in secret. 
As with the devil linked ; 

Profession not so secret 
As you unjustly think. 



Wake up to thoughts of Christhood 
In these your passing years. 

If you drown those Christ longings. 
A devil's form appears. 



I30 THREADS OF GOLI>. 



THE BOOK OF LIFE. 



I LOVE to take the word of life 
And read the sacred pages there. 
The Holy Spirit gives the light 
As I its joys and pleasures share. 



I love to take the word of life. 
Which is by inspiration given, 
That I may follow Thee aright 
And become an heir of heaven. 



I love to take the word of life, 
For it alone has been my guide; 
Its promises are fair and bright 
To all who seek and doth not hide. 



I love to take the word of life. 
It reveals such wondrous love — 
Thousands of thousands clothed in white 
That reign in endless bliss above. 



THE BOOK OF LIFE. 131 



I love to take the word of life — 

By its radiance I can see 

The cross of Christ was raised on high 

And on that cross he died for me. 



I love to take the word of life — 
■" Water of Life," the "Living Bread. 
The e3'e of faith brings it to sight ; 
By it the hungr3' soul is fed. 



I love to take the word of life — 
Aid me. Lord, from heaven above. 
That I may read as in th}' sight, 
Stayed upon everlasting love. 



I love to take the word of life, 
A foretaste of eternal jo}-. 
It aids me in my daily life, 
As I my powers thus emploj-. 



I love to take the word of lite 
And read the sacred pages there. 
The Holy Spirit gives the light 
That I its jo3\s and pleasures share. 



132 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



WHENCE CAME THEY? 



Whence came that bright array- 
That stand before the throne ? 
Arra3'^ed in white are they, 
In beauty not their own. 



Whence came that happy throng 
Unto those mansions fair? 
They sing the victor's song — 
I long their joys to share. 



They came through trials great 
And out of every clime, 
Those joys did them await. 
Ah ! will those joys be mine ? 



They loved their Savior's name, 
Whilst in this world below ; 
They through sufferings came, 
Now free from every woe. 



WHENCE CAME THEY? 133 



They stand arraj^ed in light 
On the eternal shore, 
Thousands arra3'ed in white, 
In bliss forevermore. 



Brought through tribulation, 
They gained that happy land ; 
Ceaseless adoration 
Flows from that sinless band. 



No more in sorrow led. 
All tears were wiped away, 
On heaven's joj^s are fed 
Through an eternal day. 



Whence came that happy throng 
Before the great white throne? 
They sing the new, new^ song, 
In heaven's strains are borne. 



O, may I reach that place — 
Heaven so bright, so fair! 
I would their footsteps trace, 
And I their joys would share. 



134 THREADS OF GOLD. 



* THE SPARROWS. 



Wee little sparrows 
Free from all sorrows, 
A family brood 
All searching- for food ; 
They are here and there, 
All freedom from care; 
They won't fly away, 
Come with us to staj'. 



They do chirp all day, 

No board bill to paj'. 

They show much good sense 

At such small expense. 

A nuisance, you say, 

That comes every day, 

So bold and witty — 

For them no pity. 



*"Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many 
sparrows." — Luke 12:7. 



THE SPARROWS. 135 



Alwaj's chirp, chirp, chirp. 
So bold and so pert. 
They thus drive away 
Singing- birds, you say — 
Such a pest are they, 
A nuisance j^ou say. 
Just give one reason 
That is in season. 



Now take a good look 
In the good old book. 
I think you will see 
What a nuisance thej' be. 
' She hath found an house 
In which she can live. 
The Bible is true. 
So what can you do? 



Upon the house top 
Their chirp j^ou can't stop. 
The}" live and they thrive, 
With mortals abide. 
God takes care of them. 
And them he doth send 
That they may you teach. 
Just heed what they prenrh. 



136 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Those birds of the air 
God's mercies doth share, 
No thought for their life 
In peace or in strife. 
Thej' sow not, nor reap, 
Yet they eat and sleep ; 
No storehouse have they, 
Yet live day by da}'. 



You better than they 
Just heed what I say — 
Those sparrows so small 
Give lessons to all. 
Be like a sparrow 
And do not borrow 
No care nor sorrow 
Now for to-morrow. 



You like them depend 
On what God doth send, 
You, better than they, 
Not if you don't pray. 
Like them, trust in him 
Or you daily sin. 
They trust the giver- 
Have doubts, no never. 



THE SPARROWS. 137 



You take all you can — 
The nature of man. 
Grasping brings sorrow, 
So do you borrow. 
Those sparrows doth teach, 
Just heed what thej^ preach. 
Learn the lesson well 
And it will be well. 



So thoughtfullj' pray 
If better than thej'. 
Convicted, ah, what ? 
Just saj^, / 'i-e forgot. 
Much better than they, 
Our Father doth say 
On one condition 
You are his children. 



So don't go to croak, 

With finger to poke 

At the poor sparrow 

To your own sorrow. 

Not one of them falls 

To the earth, be it said, 

Without his notice 

When they drop down dead. 



138 THREADS OF GOLD. 



AUTUMN. 



Autumn's tints are pressed vipon the vines, 
It is death's seal, by which autumn binds; 
From its strong hand there is no release, 
The flowers fade and the song birds cease. 



All verdure ablaze with glory bright, 
Whilst beauty fades in leaf — lovely sight- 
In gorgeous hues doth sublimel3' shine ; 
Yet in that beauty death's touch is thine. 



Reflected from vines and forest groves, 
Earth and heaven blend, in glory glows, 
Blending with that of the setting sun, 
As nature's course into autumn run. 



Autumn's glory, like the setting sun, 
In a little while its course has run, 
To be followed by long, dreary hours 
Waiting once more for spring-time showers. 



The leaves thus fall and the flowers fade, 
Casting its gloom like the evening's shade, 
Falls like a mantle o'er mother earth. 
Till spring-time once more shall give them birth. 



AUTUMN. 139 



The trees and flowers seek nature's rest — 
Even death doth give what seemeth best. 
Just one short day it doth measure all. 
And in that one short da}- all must fall. 



The trees and flowers, with birds of song, 
All to one bright summer da}- belong. 
We mortals, like thej-, must fill our place, 
Or in death we shall no glorj- trace. 



None shall escape the sepulchre shade. 
We, like flowers, at autumn-time fade. 
And lips, like song-birds, shall cease to speak 
When our spirits have thus been released. 



Autumn of life is coming to all, 
When we like the leaves must fade and fall. 
And in that fall maj^ a glor\- press 
Bej'ond autumn's glorj-, nothing less. 



Even so, my God, so let it be, 
That others in death that glor}' see— 
The glory of the Christ-life expand, 
As I draw near heaven's border-land. 



HO THREADS OF GOLD. 



I AM LONELY TO-NIGHT. 



I FEEL lonely to-night, I don't know whj' 
My long-ing soul utters its plaintive cr}', 
As if imprisoned in some lonely cell, 
Condeinned in awful solitude to dwell. 



T cast myself against the iron bars 

With longings to be free. I am debarred 

By some power — my hands, my feet, are bound. 

The horror of horrors I now have found. 



What have I done, or what has been my crime? 
Not a ray of light on that thought doth shine. 
Is there no God in the heavens above? 
In some way make know^n a sense of his love. 

I am alone, like a forsaken harp 

Thrown into a garret lonesome and dark. 

No skillful hand comes near to string the chords. 

It is this lonesoineness my soul abhors. 

I am driven by some unseen power 

Into this dungeon at this very hour. 

It 's the awful stillness of joys now crushed, 

And everynote that could thrill has been hushed. 



/ AM LONELY TO-NLGHT. 141 



Mj- God ! M3' God ! in despair I cried, 
The verj- thought made me desperately wild. 
Mj' soul was rocked on a tempestuous sea, 
Driven \>y despair it appeared to be. 



That experience, beautiful and rare, 
If I could only trust, believe in prater. 
At such times God doth displa}- his power. 
Will he not to me at this verj- hour? 



That one tho't calmed my soul, the raging- ceased, 
The quietness of my cell brought me peace. 
Those very bars gave way and I was free 
To thus commune with God. So let it be. 



My doubts were dissolved and in came the light. 
A transformation, a beautiful sight. 
Faith was n\y ladder, reached up to the sky, 
Bro't new joys and pleasures down from on high. 



We can make our heaven or make our hell — 
Just depends with whom we commune and dwell. 
There is no cell, no bars, that can confine 
The soul where Christ alone doth dailv shine. 



H2 THREADS OF GOLD. 



IF I SHOULD DIE TO-DAY. 



If I should die to-day, 
What then? 

Tears from some eyes would fall, 
Through grief, 

Upon my up-turned face 

Whilst they lovingly called 
My name ; in grief's impassioned tones 
Touch the cold flesh upon my bones ; 
My sightless eye-balls could not see 
Those tears loved ones would shed for me. 

If I should die to-day, 
I would 

Fall helpless by the way. 
Where found, 

Death would spare me the sight 

Revealed, be what it might. 
As the dear ones might gather round 
In a circle where grief was found, 
And in anguish, "Papa," would cry, 
In death unmoved b}' tear or sigh. 

If I should die to-day, 
To me 

Those scenes wovild be unknown 
As they, 

Friends, one b}^ one might pass, 

As if in anguish borne ; 
With solemn face and their bowed head, 
As if in reverence to the dead, 
With whispered breath would speak my name, 
By sympathy keep bright the flame. 



IF I SHOULD DIE TO-DAY. 143 



If I should die to-day, 
I thought 

How quick the news would fly 
Around. 

People would come and go 

Silently through the door. 
Upon n\y cold form they might lavish 
More words of praise than I could wish — 
Speak my praise in death with feeling 
They withheld whilst I were living. 

If I should die to-day, 
Some one 

In sweet accents would say 
One word 

To ease those aching hearts 

Under the rod that smarts. 
Unconscious of all that might pass — 
Loving words tempered by the blast 
Of death's cold wave that o'er them rolled 
As they my face in death behold. 

If I should die to-daj', 

I know 
Many would go to tell 
The news : 
" The preacher died to-day," 
In solemn tones would say. 
Of my goodness and noble acts 
Some would speak regardless of facts — 
But sorrow touches human hearts, 
Towards those who in death departs. 



144 



THREADS OF GOLD. 



A SYMBOL OF BEAUTY. 



I received a rose after ray mother's death that lay on her 
breast as she lay in death awaiting her ti-ansit to the grave. It 
has faded and its beauty gone. I prize it for its association with 
life and death. During her life she cultivated it with care and 
admired its sweet fragrance. 



This faded rose a loving tribute brings, 
From its silent leaves, sweet memories spring. 
Its advent brought forth from heart a sigh, 
By its silent presence truth lingers nigh. 



It lived that its own mission might attain, 
A most worthy ambition thus to gain. 
For life it lived, cut down for death, to die, 
Blended in one, I see no reason why. 



Its withered leaves reveal to me a gloom, 
A thought that even death cannot consume. 
It has filled its mission with matchless grace, 
By life, by death, its life, its death, I trace. 



A. SYMBOL OF BEAUTY. 



145 



These silent withered leaves to me confide 
A secret, and I thus rest satisfied — 
Speaks of \ny mother's love in its own day, 
For her it died when she thus passed away. 



I loved it as I looked upon its face, 
In those faded leaves rare beauty I traced. 
Itself and mistress death had thus assailed — 
Both now lie within death's dark mystic vail. 



Near to my heart they both shall thus abide, 
Linked together as one, though drawn aside. 
As I thus ponder tears I cannot hide — 
Dear faded rose, I draw thee to my side. 



Mould thou to dust, like one within the tomb, 
Th}' beaut3- death has already consumed. 
Precious treasure, tho' but a faded rose, 
I '11 watch o'er thy ashes as thej- repose. 



146 THREADS OF GOLD. 



LIFE'S SEA. 



" But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with 
waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of 
the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And 
when the disciples saw hiin walking on the sea, they were troub- 
led, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But 
straightway Jesus spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer; it 
is I; be not afraid." — Matt. 14 eh., 24 to 27 verses. 



Life is a sea that must be crossed, 

Upon its billows life is tossed, 

Knowing not what is stored in store 

Or what is just beyond, before. 

At our Lord's command we thus cross life's sea, 

Through storm or sunshine, whatever it be. 

We are launched at birth, a frail bark — 
Upon life's sea one human ark 
Of mortal frame, whate'er betide, 
On its surface so broad and wide ; 
We thus sail along to the other side. 
Whatever happens we must there abide. 

Through infant days was guided safe. 
The care from others love did trace ; 
Many an anxious moment spent, 
As on life's course we thus were bent. 
It was a mother's love, a luother's care. 
Many anxieties she thus did share. 



LIFE'S SEA. 147 



We to manhood at last were grown, 

Still in the ship we were thus borne 

Into the midst of life's great sea — 

Borne onward, ever thus to be. 

We met with cross seas, and the waves were high, 

Brought many anxious thoughts, terror and sigh. 



The storm before us, dead of night. 
We rose in fear, as if in fright ; 
Losing control of our own ship — 
Life's journe}^ a dangerous trip ; 
Realized our danger, right in our course, 
It appeared to concern us all the most. 



Whilst in the storm one came to thee, 
As He thus walked upon the sea. 
We could not see Him, we were blind. 
As the waves rose before, behind — 
A most fearful storm, that filled with dismay- 
As we longed and prayed for the dawn of day. 



Ah! we saw soinething in that storm 

That filled the soul with dread alarm. 

With fears without and doubts within, 

All on account of our life's sin. 

In anguish borne we thus cried out in fear, 

Thinking that some spirit was drawing near. 



148 THREADS OF GOLD. 



In a moment a voice thus speaks, 
And the anguish at once thus breaks. 
The Christ, the Lord, dispels our fear, 
Speaking to us, " Be of good cheer "; 
Above the storm we heard the Master's cry, 
Speaking thus : " Be of good cheer: it is I." 



Brother, take heart. Christ still the same. 

Walking on the sea he thus came. 

What he has done can do again. 

" I will," the promise he doth send. 

" I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 

In mercy he thus speaks : " Believe in me." 



Life's journey o'er, another shore, 

Where storms shall rage and wax no more. 

" The fourth watch of night " dawn will come, 

And He will safely guide thee home. 

In the midst of storms thou shalt humbly trust, 

Walking thus on the sea He '11 save. He must. 



What gratitude to fill one heart. 
In storm He will not thus depart. 
It's Christ you need in time of need. 
Thus doubt no more, only believe — 
In every trying hour to him thus crj' : 
" Lord, save me," — " Be not afraid, it is I." 



OUR TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. 149 



OUB TWENTY-nFTH AWKIVERSARYv 



It 's just twenty-five years ago to-day, 

How brief the time doth seem ; 
We wedded and together went our way 

Over life's flowing stream. 

We pledged our troth underneath autumn skiea 

Within the mystic vale, 
There we could not foresee what would arise 

As o'er life's sea we sailed. 

On that eventful morn we thus did greet 

The sunbeam's smiling ray; 
'Twas a journej'^ for life, with no retreat 

Until life's closing day. 

Many blessings have blended with our 3 eard, 

As they have swiftly passed, 
Whilst many doubts and fears mingled with tears 

In trying moulds were cast. 

We have written life's pages, one by one, 

As we life's book doth make, 
And every evening with the setting sun 

Our praise to God awake. 



I50 THREADS OF GOLD. 



How thankful for this anniversary day, 

The fruit of those now past. 
We see our hair is turning- somewhat gray, 

And age is creeping fast. 

Half a century thus have glided o'er 

Our pathwaj^ as you see; 
We cannot expect thus to toil much more 

Before death comes, maybe. 

The sweetest thoughts that blend with life to-day 

In dwelling on the past. 
In thought or act we never did betray 

Those vows for Christ we cast. 



Nothing but " broken reeds " our lives have been. 

Beneath God's daily gaze ; 
Only a "smoking flax" could thus be seen 

In all our christian ways. 

Just one talent from our Lord we received. 

And that we greatly prized. 
'Twas our joy, our only hope, to believe, 

And that we realized. 



It seems to us that we might have done more 

In toiling for our Lord ; 
We often enter through our closet door 

To see what we have stored. 



OUR TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. 151 



The fruits, we know, are anything- but large, 

So small in size appear; 
Yet no deceit or guile has ever marred 

What we have gathered here. 



It 's faith alone in Him, our coming sight. 

When He will thus appear 
We will welcome His coming with delight, 

Without a pang or fear. 



The fruits of our toil we '11 lay at His feet, 

And earnestly entreat, 
For His sake alone, they shall be made meet, 

An offering pure and sweet. 



Trembling, but confiding, we will thus wait. 

And in His judgment rest. 
"As 3'^e have done it unto me " — how great ! 

His judgment is the best. 



We will thus abide, whate'er may betide, 

Even unto the end ; 
And in His promise we will thus abide, 

Though rocks in sunder rend. 



152 THREADS OF GOLD, 



NIGHTLY ECHOES, 



i STAND at midnight underneath the vaulted dome, 

The heaven of heavens so vast above my head. 

Their silent speech awakens strange thoughts, be it said. 



Those stars that twinkle in their orbs like gems of gold, 
That quiver in their speech, a language still untold. 
No mortal as yet understands what thej' behold. 



The moon had risen, and, like a fair bride, she rides 
Through unknown space. By her power tides rise and 

fall. 
What mortal man can tell that power? None at nil. 



How small is man; surrounded bj' infinite space; 

As he thus stands beneath that dome, strange thoughts 

awake. 
So grand and rare, this thought of God he cannot shake. 



At this moment nature's silence, as if in sleep, 
In deep abj'ss, how vast to me, it rests unknown 
In solitude, as on some unknown sea I'm borne. 



NIGHTLY ECHOES. 153 



At this? midnight hour 1113' mind is thus lost in thought- 
Deeper the depths within than those I find without, 
Fathomless, unknown, I confess without a doubt. 



There is an echo within my sovil that responds 
To the eternal God, who thus rules over all. 
Somehow luy soul awakens to its silent call. 



It 's not a voice from human lips I seem to hear 

As I thus stand at this very hour all alone ; 

Yet not alone, soiueone is near beneath the dome. 



I could not exist alone, through some source I live. 
Whj' am I thus drawn with a 3'earning from within, 
If that yearning is not to make me think of Him r 



I am a child surrounded bj- \\\y father God. 
How grand, inspiring, his works beneath, above, 
Those silent orbs with their silent voice speak bis love. 



154 THREADS OF GOLD. 



TOILING ON. 



It is a most blessed calling-, 

Toil till the day is o'er, 
And the evening shadows falling, 

You cannot work no more ; 
The fruits of your labor bringing 

Unto the Master's feet, 
And your heart with gladness ringing 

That life's work is complete. 
Then the well done will surely come 
The crown receive which thou hast won. 



However long the day may be, 

Night will surely follow. 
In the valley you may not see. 
From the hill-tops borrow 
That calm repose, as one who knows 

" In whom they have believed." 
Hour after hour thy faith thus glows 
Till the shadowy eve. 
Then the well done will surely come, 
The crown receive which thou hast won. 



MY STUDY. 155 



MY STUDY. 



There is a place where I delight to dwell — 
I prize it more than human lips can tell. 
Underneath its shelter I love to hide — 
With my books in solitude thus abide. 
They are my silent friends, 
Love for them sweetly blends. 
Within my stud}' walls I share 
Quietude free from care. 

When burdens press upon mj'^ anxious breast, 
I often go there for a quiet rest. 
An inviting shelter its shadows hide, 
As in communion with God I abide. 
Just for a little while 
I seek its rest from toil, 
Sweet haven to a trustful soul, 
A broken heart thus made whole. 



If it were not for that blessed retreat, 
Where I often approach with weary feet, 
My hopes would thus become a total loss, 
As I upon life's stormy sea am tossed. 
It's my haven of rest, 
And with its calmness blest, 
As I thus go from day to day, 
Within its wall to watch and pray. 



156 THREADS OF GOLD. 



I am a shepherd thus daily watching- 
O'er my flock, and with them thus abiding-, 
At my post to be found faithful and true 
To man and God, whatever may ensue, 
In sorrow or in joy 
Mj^ life for them employ. 
In much weakness I thus deplore 
As I pass through my study door. 

Such burdens and sorrows of others' woes 
The shepherd must bear as he daily goes 
Amongst his own people from day to da}^ 
To inspire the good, but the evils stay. 
It takes redeeming grace 
Such a life to embrace, 
Thus to trace one's way day by day, 
Be it joy or grief, what it ma3\ 

Sin doth abound, yea, all have gone astraj^ 
Darkness broods instead of the light of da}. 
The sacred fires, I see, are burning dim. 
This appalling darkness the people's sin. 
From it I seek to hide 
Within walls to abide. 
To plead with God where none can see. 
In my study I long to be. 

With that firm belief that I have in prayer, 
It's my faith in God that thus takes me there. 
A most peaceful rest I thus find within 
Its walls, as I bemoan my people's sin, 



MY STUDY. 157 



In agony of soul, 

Mercy alone control. 
When I have thus shut to my door, 
A suppliant my God adore. 

Those dumb silent walls my witnesses be, 
When I alone, where none but God can see ; 
Those silent tears that I so often shed ; 
And where the pastor's heart has daily bled. 
Whilst on his bended knee, 
Where none but God could see, 
Poured forth nij^ cries with bitter tears. 
The darkness great, through anxious fears. 

If it had not been for that hallowed place, 
Where its helpfulness I so clearly trace 
The need, as those trials had completelj' crushed 
My spirit, came a voice that sweetlj^ hushed 
The anguish found within, 
All on account of sin, 
I felt at once, close by mj^ side, 
As if my Lord did thus abide. 

In my study, where intercessions rise, 
As I looked for help through tear-stained eyes, 
Whilst for my waj^ward flock my spirit 5'earns 
And my heart aflame in sore anguish burns 
For the waywardly sheep, 
I am smitten with grief. 
I come to plead for those I love — 
The flock o'er which I 'm placed by God. 



158 THREADS OF GOLD. 



THE CHBISTIAX GRACES. 



FAITH. HOPE, CHARITY. 



Faith, a christian grace of noble worth, 
Grasps things unseen, to a mortal's gain. 
Its own vast realms are heaven and earth, 
A thought ungrasped by a human brain. 

Seeks no assistance of human help 
In times of trial or conflicts great ; 
It finds resources of greater wealth, 
Whatever issues ma}' be at stake. 

Faith in God can remove mountains, or 
Make the rough plain, or the crooked straight. 
' Faith is the substance of things hoped for," 
O'ercomes life's trials, however great. 

Faith is God's power, a tfiought sublime, 
That a huinan mind cannot conceive. 
Links our own weakness with the divine. 
'All things are 3'ours," takes faith to believe. 

Hope is an anchor, needed in life. 
Ever abiding, steadfast and bright — 
In days of gloom or the darkest night. 
Always abiding in strength and might. 



THE CHRISTIAN GRACES. 159 



Hope keeps vis from sinking into gloom, 
And in the moment of deep distress, 
Giveth strength that nothing can consume. 
Strengthening hearts within human breasts. 

Alwa3'S abiding a da}^ at a time, 
Comforting like some inspiring song, 
Steadying frail hearts like mine and thine, 
A christian grace to this life belongs. 

Without it, we would die in despair. 
Left stranded upon some unknown shore, 
And to other minds the thought would glare, 
Hopelessness, a sad thought to deplore. 

Charity, the sweetest grace of all, 
That comes as a guest that we may share ; 
Love is divine whate'er maj' befall, 
Adorning our life, a grace so rare. 

Queen of the three graces, matchless love, 
Suffusing our lives, so grand, so fair. 
Transforming lives like that from above, 
To the Christ-likeness love shall compare. 

Love abiding is love adoring, 
Revealing heaven to human sight. 
We abidins", others beholding, 
Transformed it be, resplendent with light. 

Faith, hope and love, these graces sublime, 
Beautiful and grand within our reach. 
Can I bj^ right claim such treastires mine? 
If so, what a life my life may preach. 



i6o THREADS OF GOLD. 



HOSES, SWEET ROSES. 



Roses, sweet roses, in the month of June, 
Filling? the air with sweet perfume, 

Their colors so bright and their fragrance i*weet 
Their coming I again thus greet. 

The roses I welcome with all my heart, 
From them I do not wish to part. 

To me they are always so sweet and pure, 
Our friendship always will endure. 

Roses, sweet roses, so fair and so bright, 
On this June morning greet my sight, 

As their sweet fragrance on the air doth flow 
Like b)'-gone days of long ago. 

In my childhood da3^s the roses grew, 
Their petals wet with nightly dew. 

Mother would shake them as she would gather 
Roses, her favorite flower. 

To me no other flower like the rose — 
Blends with my life unto its close. 

I shall always love them where'er I dwell, 
Till the leaves to the cold earth fell. 

Even so, like the rose in its short day, 
May my life some influence sway, 

That some sweet fragrance in mj' life may dwell. 
Fill my place, like the rose, so well. 

Each human life thus like a rose inay be 
Branching forth from the parent tree, 

Blooming with a fragrance of sacrifice, 
Likened unto the living Christ. 



AN OPEN GRAVE. i6i 



*AN OPEN GRAVE. 



I STOOD beside an open grave, upon a summer day; 

A solemn thought stole o'er the mind without one cheer- 
ing ray. 

I could not bring mj- thoughts to rest upon the scene in 
view, 

A shattered wreck of human life, that could not be re- 
newed. 

The grave was ready to receive and hold within its power 

That which was given to its trust till the decisive hour. 



A wreck of human life was he, whilst held within the 
grasp 

Of demon drink and skeptic thoughts, a two-fold hellish 
blast. 

His thoughts no higher motive found, but sin and pleas- 
ure sought ; 

It was a life the most debased he in his race had wroutrht. 

With his own heart and thoughts combined to feed his 
mad career. 

Downward in course he ever went, and died without a fear. 



* The above sad scene occurred on the field of one of my 
pastorates. On Sabbath morning, just as we wei-e assembling 
for worship, the sad news came, awful to think of, trying to 
contemplate, only one of the many sacrifices to the demon drink. 



i62 THREADS OF GOLD, 



He ever shunned the voice of trixth, and with a sneering 

look 
Gazed upon the best of friends, that prized God's sacred 

book; 
Nor would he hear the warning cry, or give a moment's 

thought 
To words of counsel or reproof, with madness ever fought. 
Until the day of mercy past and he was left alone 
To face his maker and his God upon His judgment throne. 

At last he sought to quench his thirst, with eager foot- 
steps bent. 

He drank, he stayed till darkness came that brought the 
sad event. 

At last he came, and b3^ the fence he took a strip of bark, 

And by its light he sought its aid to guide him in the 
dark. 

The burning embers fell around and inarked the drunk- 
ard's way, 

A light it was, it proved his last before the break of da}-. 



The neighbors slept, the morning came and told the sad, 
sad tale; 

Whoever heard what had occurred they gave a bitter wail. 

No friend was near to stop the flames as they in anger 
grew, 

The house in which the drunkard lay was all at once con- 
sumed, 

In ashes all was brought to lay before the gazeful crowd. 

The deed was done, and he was called to reap his own re- 
^vard. 



THE TUMBLE WEEDS. 163 



THE TUMBLE WEEDS. 



Did you ever watch the tumble weeds 

Roll across the prairies ? 
There is great sport in watching the deeds 

Of these Russian fairies. 



Thej' chase one another as with delight — 
For miles and miles will run. 

Thej'^ are here and there and out of sight 
In their frolic and fun. 



They jump and toss as if they had life, 
Each tries to head the race. 

They jumble and mix, as if in strife, 
Battling face to face. 



Again they break and scatter once niore- 
To right and left they go. 

Before you know it they pass j'our door, 
Driven b}' winds that blow. 



The tumble weeds are on constant move, 
O'er the broad prairies roll 

Over each other, as if to prove 

They have a right to stroll. 



1 64 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Will your life, like a tumble weed, be 
Like chaff before the wind. 

Simply run after what you may see 
And in nothingness end ? 



Not all to run hither and thither 
By every wind that blows, 

Going, like weeds, jou know not whither, 
Nobody cares or knows. 



You simply live to have a good time, 
Every daj^ just the same. 

To live such a life is your worst crime, 
Whate'er may be the name. 



Roll and tumble against each other, 
You waste your time to live. 

I 'd be a sister or a brother, 
An inspiration give. 



Be a tumble weed, if you want to, 
And all such pleasures find. 

When you have stop'd running you may rue 
The folly it combined. 



E VOL UTION. 165 



EVOLUTION. 



What strange impulses touch my very soul, 

Pulsate with yearnings almost divine ? 

I have no power to grasp or control 

Their influence. Some unseen power doth bind. 

Treasuries of knowledge about me cast, 
Their mystery tantalizations bring; 
Such earnest longings, infinitely vast, 
Like might)^ planets that around me swing. 

A blade of grass, a flower, or a star; 
Yea, the nightly whisperings of the wind, 
Seem to outstrip me by their wisdom far, 
Whilst their verj' silence my longings rend. 

I yearn for something I have never seen. 
Yet around me I can trace His dwelling place ; 
All about me I see where He has been. 
That truth, do what I will, I can't erase. 



Longings within xv\y soul so wide and deep, 
Might}^ influences around me sweep, 
Wider than the sea or those mountains steep, 
Invite me to soar : I can only creep. 



1 66 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Things seen or unseen do I understand, 
Visible or invisible to me, 
All by their wisdom 1113^ ignorance brand — 
Through blinded ignorance I cannot see. 



There is a voice that speaks to me, not small: 
" Go to the ant, and consider her ways." 
In va.y ignorance I longingly call 
For brighter and more intelligent days. 



Knowledge I have, but of a human source — 
In many things I maj' be great and wise. 
Such knowledge reveals my ignorance most. 
As it came from the earth, not from the skies. 



Men have been great and much wiser than I, 
Monuments to their fame with us to-day. 
From those crumbling ashes coines forth a sigh, 
Their wisdom and greatness seem to betraj'. 



It's something beyond the mortal I crave — 
Those earthly beings cannot satisf3' 
This intense longing like some inighty wave 
Comes sweeping over such a worm as I. 



EVOLUTION. rty 



I 'ni a creature of a wise creator, 

So inysteriovisl}- and wondrously made ; 

Those secret springs within — what are they for 

r ma}' thus ignore, but cannot evade. 



Sin, like a blight upon that image fair, 
But not destro3'ed, whatever it may be ; 
God's image — fair likeness — would I dare 
To presume to tell what I cannot see? 



Yet. like a spring, within my soul to rise 
For over fifty years, yet never quenched ; 
Like some starving babe, I 'm not satisfied 
With what I have received. O take it hence. 



As if from a slumber, I thus awake 
To the light and strive to open mine eyes, 
Somebod}-, somehow, within me thus spake: 
" My child, come learn of me and thus be wise." 



Just as a little child, with childlike trust, 

I came as a child to a Teacher must. 

And learned of Him who came, the wise, the just, 

M3' all to Him in childlike faith intrust. 



i68 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Gently as the morning dawn the light came, 

Bringing a peace, a rest, within my soul, 

That made me rise like a temple of fame. 

My heart and mind by knowledge thus controlled. 



I saw new beauty, grace in everything, 

Love and mercy was thus about me cast. 

From this source of knowledge new life did spring, 

Consciousness of his handiwork at last. 



I am a child of one great father, God. 

He would not leave tne to some cruel fate. 

Some enemy to me I know has robbed 

My soul, but not destroyed His image great. 



I know, I feel, yea, I can understand 
Through wisdom revealed in manj' ways, 
At some future time, in some other land, 
I shall leave far behind these infant days. 



God, I thank thee for these yearnings great, 
That sway my soul with its power divine ; 

1 thus slowly grow, but that growth will make 
At last thy knowledge, for which I thirst, mine. 



A MOTHER'S LOVE. 169 



* A MOTHER'S LOVE. 



"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should 
not have compassion on the son of her womb ? Yea, they may 
forget, yet will I not forget thee.'' — Isaiah, 49:15. 



A FAMILY of seven, loyal and true, 
United together whatever ensue, 
Their love for each other sincerely bound, 
The secret of happiness each one had found. 



My visits to them such joy they did give, 

It gladdened my heart to behold how the}' lived, 

A famil}' interest one in another, 

The youngest of all a wee baby brother. 



* The niotlier refen-ed to was a member of ray church, noted 
for her piety and sweetness of disposition. 



I70 THREADS OF GOLD. 



My visits to that home were filled with delight, 
Their home circle so pure, a most pleasing sight. 
Would shadows ever fall from darkness of night 
Upon their pathwa}', its happiness to blight? 

That mother's face, a benediction to all, 
She reigned like a queen her household to control. 
In her own daily sphere she frequently said : 
" To my home circle I am happilj' wed." 

One daj- she came over in anguish of heart, 
Her spirit, wovinded, under the rod did smart. 
Hastening my steps on that eventful day 
To find her baby boy in death sweetU' lay. 

The first broken link in a chain of seven, 
A cold form lay on the shore of their haven. 
Stranded and wrecked upon death's dangerous reef. 
In that disaster they were smitten with grief. 

The little form rested enshrouded in white 
Within its casket, so sweet to one's sight. 
Before it was carried to its resting place, 
Death was claiining another bright little face. 

Two little marble forms thus lay side by side, 
The angry billows were spreading far and wide, 
Fountains of grief from secret springs of sorrow 
Flowed, as the}' from each human heart did borrow. 



A MOTHER'S LOVE. I7» 



As we to the grave those cold forms did convej-, 
A messeno^er came running to our dismaj-. 
Sa^ang one more had died, the only brother. 
How mj^ heart yearned for that father and mother. 

In one short week the reaper had gathered all. 
Such a sad calamity thus to befall, 
As I sat by that father and mother's side, 
The two remaining ones in death did abide. 



With folded hands that father and mother sat 
Like marble statues ; their grief was unsurpassed. 
I felt so helpless to thus assuage their grief ; 
Touched by their own sorrow, I could only weep. 

Some unseen power aroused that stricken mother. 
Whilst in grief united to one another. 
She took me by the hand, saying: " Will you pray 
" Though He slay me, yet will 1 trust," she did say 



•>" 



Five newly made graves were formed straight in a line, 
Five little darlings that mother had called "mine." 
That home was so lonesome, in silence untold, 
I feared some other trial might yet unfold. 

Yes, that mother's reason thus became dethroned, 
From one room to another she daily roamed, 
Thus calling her children by name, one by one, 
As she in days past had so frequently done. 



172 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Their chairs at the table she would always place, 
Full of expectation and jo)% you could trace ; 
And when they catne not she would stand at the door, 
Saying- : '* Come children," as she had done before. 

The last time I saw her she said unto me : 

" Have you seen the children '? O where can the3^ be ?" 

With voice so cheerful, and her face all aglow, 

As if they might be playing close by the door. 

The last act she performed was washing their clothes, 
Neatlj' prepared, as a mother onlj'- knows. 
On Saturday night they were carefully spread, 
Each garment thus laj' on the children's bed. 

To the Sabbath school she desired they might go, 
As they had gone with her so often before. 
A penny was placed in each little pocket. 
So that each little one might not forget it. 

Just at the dawn of the coming Sabbath day 
She whispered their names as she silently lay. 
Then in a moment she cried : " Mamma will come." 
She and her children were united as one. 

I g-azed on those garments laid out on the bed. 
Then on that mother's face in death, be it said. 
Ah ! "can a woman forget her child? She may." 
"I will not forget thee," hast thou heard Him say? 



LIFE'S EXPERIENCES. 173 



LIFE'S EXPERIENCES. 



Have you tried to speak when lips would quiver, 
Through some great sorrow pressing sore thine heart. 
Whilst the fountain of tears like some river 
Would flow unchecked if they once got a start V 

Have you tried to speak with your heart so full 

Of some great joy known only unto thee, 

Thine eyes beclouded, thy vision so dull. 

As through those joyful tears thou couldst not see? 

Have 3^ou tried to speak just one loving word 
To some dear friend that lingered by thy side, 
For lack of courage it had been deferred 
And you parted, like two seas, far and wide? 

Have you tried to sing some familiar song 
With an anxious heart or a troubled mind ; 
You could not strike the key that thus belonged— 
Too high, too low, or you dragged far behind? 

Have 30U felt the mighty inijnilse of love 
Moving thine heart to do what angels would? 
Came as an inspiration from above, 
It died at birth, passed awaj' unimproved? 

Have 3'ou felt unthankful and out of place 
With your daily surroundings, da3 by da3'; 
Some selfish wish that others could not trace. 
To what ptirjjose 3'our lips refused to sa3-? 



174 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Have you felt at night you would like to pray, 
When alone in your chamber seeking rest, 
Some motive influenced you to say nay 
And you yielded to the temptation's test ? 

Have you felt restless at silent midnight, 
When everthing appeared so lone and still ? 
With your own conscience you waged a fight, 
Those silent misgivings your heart did fill r 

As some grand impulse swayed thine inmost soul 
With a desire to do some noble deed. 
Just for one moment it did thus control. 
And yet it failed to draw where it would lead. 

Did you ever rise at the dawn of morn 
With a noble purpose within your breast 
That some noble deed 3'^our life would adorn 
Before that da3''s sun had set in the west? 

Many opportunities in life's way 
Linger behind, and stretching on before, 
Regardless of the fact of life's short day. 
Lost opportunities 3'ou ma}'^ deplore. 

Wh3' not change 3 our course, at whatever cost 
Of sacrifice or little selfish whim ? 
Loose your weakness: instead of manhood lost, 
Rise to manhood, and the victory win. 



THE END. 175 



THE END. 



Yea, all things have an end, 
However great or small ; 
As true as nature blends, 
Dust over all shall fall. 

Be it thrones of power, 
Constantly on the wane, 
Naught but a passing hour, — 
Truth will ever remain. 

This work I now complete. 
In weakness thus expressed, 
For readers thus to greet, 
Remembering the text. 

These Threads will soon grow old, 
But truth will still endure. 
Like unto beaten gold. 
Will last forever, sure. 

This book will soon grow old. 
The ashes will enfold 
Some particles of gold 
When all in death is cold. 

Truth will ever remain, 
When earth shall be no more — 
Eternally- the same, 
Truth will heaven adore. 



176 THREADS OF GOLD. 



Then search not for mere threads, 
But search and thus behold. 
As if you want to feed 
On particles of jyold. 

The object thus in view, 
To lead your mind aright, 
Out of it may ensue 
The dawn of morning light. 

My work is now complete, 
I give to you to drain. 
No elaborate feat, 
I hope it's not in vain. 

It is in simple verse 
I sought to glorify 
Within this book rehearsed 
The language of the sk3\ 

It's but a little thing, 
As I thus call it mine, 
Yet out of it may spring 
One ray of truth to shine. 

It's but a human seed, 
Someone may praise the deed, 
As on the truth they feed, 
To gratitude will lead. 



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Dec 4 1901 



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INDERY INC. |§| 

DEC 88 



N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 






